Government employees accountability directive: On Saturday, a new email was sent to U.S. government employees. The message asked them to list their accomplishments from the past week or resign. This move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce.
Email Directive Instructs Employees to List Accomplishments
The email, sent to all federal workers, instructed them to list five accomplishments from the previous week. Employees were told to leave out any classified information. They had until Monday at midnight to submit their list. The subject line read, “What did you do last week?” and the email appeared to be from the HR department.
Just before the email was sent, Elon Musk posted a message on X (formerly Twitter). He said employees would “soon receive an email requesting details on their work last week.” Musk added that failure to respond would be treated as resignation.
Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), has led efforts to cut government spending and reduce staff. His team has been responsible for job cuts and budget reductions across several federal agencies.
OPM Confirms the Email’s Authenticity
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed that the email was real. The OPM explained that the email was part of a plan to create a more efficient and accountable workforce. The agency asked workers to summarize their work and send it to their managers by Monday. The OPM also noted that each agency would decide on any next steps.
The email did not explain what would happen if employees didn’t respond. However, the tone of the message suggested that failing to submit the required list could lead to resignation. Many federal workers are worried about the impact of this policy.
Union Criticizes the Directive – Government employees accountability directive
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union for federal workers, criticized the email. The union called the new policy “cruel and disrespectful.” They vowed to fight any “unlawful terminations” that may result from the directive.
Everett Kelley, president of the AFGE, spoke out against the email. He said, “Elon Musk and the Trump administration have shown complete disregard for federal workers and the important services they provide.”
Union leaders argue that the policy is unfair. They say it doesn’t take into account the complexities of government work. They also believe it undermines the work that federal employees do every day.
Musk’s Role in Shaping Government Policy
Elon Musk has been taking a more hands-on role in shaping government operations. Musk now leads the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). In this role, he has pushed for major changes in how the federal government works. Musk’s approach has been influenced by his leadership at Twitter (now called X). After buying Twitter in 2022, Musk made similar demands on employees. He required them to either work with an “extremely hardcore” mindset or resign.
Musk’s team has been working to make the U.S. federal government more efficient. Thousands of workers have lost their jobs in agencies like the IRS, Pentagon, and FAA. These job cuts are part of Musk’s effort to reduce government spending and improve performance.
Trump Supports Musk’s Efforts
President Donald Trump has shown strong support for Musk’s efforts. During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Trump talked about the need for a smaller, more efficient government. He said federal employees were not meeting expectations. “We are eliminating unnecessary, incompetent, and corrupt bureaucrats,” Trump said. “We want a government that keeps the best people and removes the worst.”
Trump has praised Musk for his cost-cutting work. He has also encouraged Musk to be even more aggressive in reducing the size of the federal workforce.
FBI Director Issues a Pause on Responses
In response to the email, newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel sent a memo to FBI employees. Patel told staff to “pause any responses” to the OPM directive. The FBI, Patel said, would handle the review process according to its own procedures. This decision shows that the FBI is taking a more careful approach to the new policy.
Concerns Grow Over the Impact on Federal Workers
As the directive continues to stir debate, many federal employees are uncertain about their future. Some are worried about losing their jobs if they don’t comply with the request. Others wonder how the policy will affect collaboration and teamwork within government agencies.
Critics argue that focusing on individual accomplishments may not be the best way to improve government efficiency. They also worry that it could lead to a hostile work environment. However, the Trump administration and Musk’s team remain committed to their goal of reducing government spending and improving performance.
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