In President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s latest move targeting the federal workforce, employees began receiving emails Saturday afternoon asking them to explain what work they did last week, as Musk announced that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”
The email from the Office of Personnel Management’s new HR address reads: “Please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager.”
The email blast came on the heels of a social media post by Musk threatening the jobs of workers who do not comply.
“Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week,” Musk posted Saturday on X, hours after Trump suggested he be more “aggressive.”
However, the email itself does not state that failure to answer will be taken as resignation. It says the deadline for submission is Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Would that be legal? Musk can’t legally force federal employees to resign, and attempting to do so would amount to an involuntary termination, Michael Fallings, a federal employment law expert, told CNN. If workers were affected, they could file a claim challenging the action.
Fallings said the demand is an “unreasonable and unnecessary request,” especially coming over the weekend and containing an arbitrary deadline.
Employees should discuss the email with their managers and, if applicable, their union officials before responding, Fallings said.
How agencies are responding: Some agencies have also advised workers not yet to respond to the email — notably at agencies where much or all of employees’ duties may be sensitive.
FBI Director Kash Patel told bureau employees Saturday not to immediately respond. Employees of the National Security Agency were also notified Saturday that they should hold off on responding until they receive further guidance from the Department of Defense, a source said.
Outrage from unions: The head of a top union representing federal workers lambasted Musk’s ultimatum, telling CNN in a statement that it reflects the Trump administration’s “utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people.”
Kelley said his union plans to take legal action.
Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, called the email “completely unAmerican.”