Related videos:
The billionaire Elon Musk, currently a government efficiency advisor to President Donald Trump, has sparked a new wave of controversy by demanding that all federal employees in the U.S. respond in writing to a key question, stating that failure to do so "will be considered a resignation" from their job.
Employees must submit a detailed report with approximately five points outlining their weekly achievements.
“All federal employees will soon receive an email asking for information about what they did last week. If they do not respond, it will be taken as a resignation”, Musk wrote on the social network.
Musk's offensive and Trump's support
Previously, Trump expressed his desire for his adviser to take a "more aggressive" stance in implementing his reform agenda to reduce federal spending.
"Elon is doing a great job, but I would like to see him become more aggressive. Remember, we have a country to save," the president wrote on his platform Truth Social.
"I will do it, Mr. President!" was Musk's succinct yet emphatic response on his platform X, to which he attached a screenshot of the American president's request.
In line with these guidelines, the United States Department of Defense has announced a 5% reduction in its civilian workforce, while other agencies have begun planning mass layoffs and freezing federal grant funds.
The email that triggered the alarm
And the email situation is no joke. Federal employees began receiving emails from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) with the subject: “What did you do last week?”.
The message requests that workers "respond with approximately five points on what they accomplished last week and copy their manager."
The deadline for submission was set for this Monday at 11:59 p.m.
However, the ambiguity of the message and the lack of clarity regarding the legal consequences caused confusion among the employees, who are wondering what will happen to those who are on vacation, on leave, or have classified roles.
Reactions from the unions and the chaos in federal agencies
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) quickly condemned the measure.
Everett Kelley, president of the organization, stated that this action reflects the “absolute disregard of Trump and Musk for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people.”
“It is cruel and disrespectful to hundreds of thousands of veterans who wear their second uniform in civil service to be forced to justify their job functions to this disconnected, privileged, and unelected multimillionaire,” Kelley added.
Meanwhile, agencies such as the FBI and the National Weather Service issued directives to their employees to refrain from responding to the emails until the authenticity of the messages was clarified.
Some federal judges have also received these emails by mistake.
Tension rises: Layoffs and reactions
Since the beginning of the Trump administration, thousands of federal workers have been laid off or pressured to leave their positions through buyout offers.
The cuts affect key agencies such as the Department of Defense, Health and Human Services, the National Park Service, and the Internal Revenue Service.
Union leaders such as Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), described the measure as "completely un-American," stating that "NTEU members will not back down from these brazen attempts to attack a vital resource for the American public."
As Musk and Trump continue to move forward with their plan to restructure the federal government, uncertainty is growing among employees, who fear losing their jobs due to unilateral and opaque decisions.
The legal reactions from unions could hinder the implementation of these measures, but for now, confusion and chaos have set in at the heart of the U.S. bureaucratic apparatus.
Frequently Asked Questions about Elon Musk's Measures in the U.S. Government.
What question has Elon Musk asked federal employees to answer?
Elon Musk has requested that all federal employees respond in writing to a key question about what they accomplished last week, outlining their achievements in about five bullet points. If they do not respond, it will be considered a resignation from their position.
What will happen to the employees who do not respond to Musk's email?
Employees who do not respond to the email will be considered to have resigned from their job. This measure has generated confusion and concern, especially among those who are on vacation or have classified duties.
What has been the reaction of the unions to this measure by Elon Musk?
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) quickly condemned the measure, labeling it a display of "absolute contempt" for federal employees and the services they provide. Unions view the action as cruel and disrespectful, particularly towards veterans in the civil service.
What implications does Musk's decision have in the context of federal budget cuts?
Musk's measure is part of a broader strategy to reduce federal spending and increase government efficiency, aligned with President Trump's reform agenda. This includes massive staff cuts and the restructuring of various federal agencies, creating significant uncertainty among affected employees and institutions.
How is the government's restructuring being implemented under Elon Musk's leadership?
The Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), led by Musk, has initiated a series of budget and personnel cuts in several federal agencies, such as the Department of Defense and the Department of Education. These actions aim to eliminate what are considered unnecessary expenses and modernize public administration, although they have faced resistance and criticism for their potential negative impacts.
Filed under:
