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Federal employees must now justify their roles or step down as the Trump administration pushes to streamline government operations. Workers received an email on Saturday afternoon instructing them to outline their achievements from the past week or resign. This directive aligns with ongoing efforts to reduce the federal workforce.

Federal Employees Receive Ultimatum

Government employees were instructed to submit a report detailing their accomplishments by Monday. The email, titled “What did you do last week?”, was sent from an HR-designated email address and required employees to copy their supervisors on their responses. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which oversees human resources for federal agencies, confirmed that the message was legitimate.

“As part of the Trump administration’s goal of fostering an efficient and accountable workforce, OPM requires employees to submit a concise summary of their weekly contributions by Monday,” the agency stated. “Each department will determine the next steps.”

The directive set a deadline of midnight on Monday but did not clarify if failing to comply would result in termination. Federal employees were instructed to provide five bullet points highlighting their contributions while avoiding classified details.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal workers’ union, condemned the move. “Once again, Elon Musk and the Trump administration demonstrate their disregard for federal workers and the essential services they provide to Americans,” said Everett Kelley, AFGE’s president. The union pledged to challenge any firings resulting from the directive.

Musk’s Role in Government Downsizing

Elon Musk, a close Trump ally and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), has led external efforts to cut federal spending through staffing reductions. Before the directive was sent, Musk posted on X warning government employees to expect an email requesting a summary of their weekly work. “Failure to reply will be considered a resignation,” Musk wrote.

On Sunday morning, Musk provided an update, stating that “a large number of responses have already been received.” He suggested that those who replied should be considered for promotions.

Musk’s approach mirrors his management style following his acquisition of Twitter, now called X. In 2022, he issued similar ultimatums to Twitter employees, demanding they commit to an “extremely hardcore” work ethic or resign.

FBI and Other Agencies React

Newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel responded to the OPM directive by telling bureau employees to hold off on responding. “FBI personnel may have received an OPM email requesting work summaries,” Patel wrote in an internal memo. “The Office of the Director manages all internal reviews and will proceed according to FBI protocols.”

Other agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have reportedly seen job cuts in recent weeks as part of the administration’s efforts to downsize government operations.

Trump Defends Government Workforce Reduction

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, Trump praised federal job cuts. “We are eliminating unnecessary, incompetent, and corrupt bureaucrats from the government,” he told the audience in suburban Washington. “We’re making the government smaller and more effective. We will keep the best people and let go of the worst.”

Trump has consistently praised Musk’s role in trimming the federal workforce. In a Truth Social post, Trump commended Musk for “doing a great job” in reducing government size and urged him to “be even more aggressive.”

Political and Public Reaction

Critics argue that the policy is harsh and could disrupt essential government services. “This administration is taking a sledgehammer to our public institutions,” said a Democratic senator, calling the move an attack on federal employees. Meanwhile, conservative groups have praised the effort as a necessary step in reducing government inefficiency.

The controversy continues to unfold, with legal challenges likely to emerge from unions and advocacy groups. Whether the ultimatum will lead to significant resignations or policy reversals remains uncertain.

For more updates on this developing story, visit Financial Mirror.