Surprising Mandate from Elon Musk
The directive came shortly after Elon Musk, then-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), shared on social media platform X that non-response would be interpreted as resignation. “All federal employees will soon receive an email asking them to outline what they accomplished last week,” Musk posted on X, as reported by Reuters on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
Department of Government Efficiency’s Aggressive Move
Musk added that failing to respond would be deemed as resignation. This announcement followed Trump’s own post on his own social media platform, Truth Social, urging DOGE to be more aggressive in reducing and restructuring the 2,3 million federal workers.
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Widespread Email Campaign
By Saturday night, the email had reached workers at various federal agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The email subject line read, “What did you do last week?”
Specific Instructions to Employees
Seen by Reuters, the email instructed employees to reply with five key points summarizing “what you achieved at work last week,” and to forward a copy to their managers. The communication came from the Human Resources Office of Personnel Management and gave employees until 11:59 PM EST on Monday to respond.
Legal and Ethical Questions
The basis for Musk’s authority to fire federal workers for not responding to his request is unclear. Additionally, the email raised questions about how employees would handle classified information that they cannot disclose publicly. Some federal court employees received the email on Saturday, though their courts are part of the judicial branch, not the executive branch number of individuals familiar with the situation noted.
Peculiar Situations in Agencies
Employees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also received the email, although much of the bureau’s staff has been ordered not to perform any tasks since early in the month. The agency, which is under a temporary judicial order to stop mass layoffs until the legal process concludes, is among them.
Video: Unveiling the Controversy: What Happened with DOGE and Elon Musk Under Trump’s Administration?
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Conclusion
The Trump administration’s aggressive stance to evaluate and possibly dismiss federal workers based on a single email is a significant and controversial step taken by the Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk’s leadership. The secretive nature of some federal tasks makes the situation even more delicate, leaving many unsure about how these directives will play out in practice.
We encourage you to reflect on this controversial decision and share your thoughts below. Join the discussion on social media with #DOGEControversy or follow us for more breaking news and insights.