Elon Musk Urges Federal Workers to Document Achievements or Exit Amid Government Cuts

The Trump administration's push for efficiency is underscored as federal workers are ordered by an email from the Department of Government Efficiency to document their weekly achievements. The initiative, backed by Elon Musk, raises union concerns over employee treatment and the future of federal jobs.

In a controversial move, federal employees received an email over the weekend demanding that they summarize their accomplishments from the previous week or risk being considered resigned. This communication, attributed to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), aligns with the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to streamline the federal workforce, a strategy heavily influenced by billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk.

The email arrived shortly after President Trump delivered a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he criticized federal employees for inadequate productivity, advocating for greater accountability within government agencies. Musk had previously foreshadowed the email through a tweet indicating that employees would soon receive a request for a weekly productivity report, which he implied would result in resignations for those who do not comply.

In a copy of the email obtained by the BBC, recipients were instructed to provide a list of their achievements in five bullet points, excluding confidential information, before a looming Monday deadline. The Office of Personnel Management confirmed the legitimacy of the emails, stating that the initiative was an effort to ensure accountability in line with the Trump administration's goals.

However, the American Federation of Government Employees, representing the majority of federal workers, condemned the email's demands as “cruel and disrespectful,” asserting their commitment to challenge any unjust terminations of employees. Union president Everett Kelley expressed grave concern over Musk and the administration's blatant disregard for federal workers and their essential roles in serving the public.

The Doge initiative, while not an official government body, reflects Musk's prior management style when he led significant job cuts at Twitter after acquiring the platform, illustrating a pattern of issuing ultimatums that challenge employees to commit deeply to their work. In support of Musk's endeavors, Trump publicly praised his cost-cutting initiatives and expressed a desire for more aggressive actions to reduce government size, indicating a potential ongoing shift in the landscape of federal employment.