In a move that sent waves through the federal workforce, employees received emails on Saturday demanding accountability for their work over the past week. This directive follows billionaire Elon Musk’s increasing influence in the Trump administration, particularly related to proposals aimed at reducing government expenditure and workforce size.
The missives, which came from a sender labeled as HR, instructed federal employees to enumerate their accomplishments from the previous week using five bullet points, explicitly forbidding the inclusion of any classified details. Workers were given a deadline of midnight Monday to comply, with the ominous warning that failure to respond would be construed as resignation.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) verified the authenticity of the emails, reinforcing the expectation for employees to report on their productivity as part of the administration's commitment to creating an efficient federal workforce. The American Federation of Government Employees criticized the approach as "cruel and disrespectful," emphasizing their commitment to contest any unlawful dismissals resulting from these new policies. Union president Everett Kelley expressed dismay, highlighting the administration's apparent disregard for federal employees’ contributions.
Earlier that day, President Trump criticized federal employees for not returning to offices, proclaiming during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that their performance was lacking.
Although the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) is not a formally recognized government division, Musk's influence has significantly restructured government operations, consolidating approval from the White House. Thousands of employees across federal agencies, including the IRS, Department of Defense, and Federal Aviation Administration, have faced termination in recent weeks.
This email initiative echoes Musk's previous strategy at Twitter, where employees were given stark choices about their job commitment. With Trump publicly praising Musk's drastic workforce reductions, the atmosphere of anxiety within federal employment is palpable as many workers grapple with the implications of these developments.
As the 'Doge' initiative continues to evolve, stakeholders question the long-term effects on job security and the culture of accountability being fostered in the federal landscape.
