Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) issued a directive over the weekend requiring all federal employees to submit a list of five recent accomplishments within 48 hours or risk termination. The mandate, which Musk says is aimed at improving government efficiency, has led to widespread confusion, resistance from federal agencies, and legal challenges from employee unions.
The directive, communicated via an email from the Office of Personnel Management, requested that all federal employees submit a short email containing five bullet points listing what they accomplished in the last week. While the OPM did not make this a condition of continued employment, Musk said in a separate X post that failure to comply would be “taken as a resignation.”
Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week.
Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 22, 2025
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While some agencies have since provided guidance encouraging compliance, others, including the FBI, Pentagon, and State Department, have advised employees to disregard the request due to concerns about its legality and potential security risks.
FBI Director Kash Patel has stated that the agency will not follow Musk’s instructions, citing federal employee protections and agency autonomy. The Department of Health and Human Services initially directed staff to comply but later rescinded that guidance. The Department of Defense has likewise declined to have its employees comply with the email request.
“DoD personnel may have received an email from OPM requesting information. The Department of Defense is responsible for reviewing the performance of its personnel and it will conduct any review in accordance with its own procedures,” an email to staff stated. “When and if required, the Department will coordinate responses to the email you have received from OPM. For now, please pause any response to the OPM email titled ‘What did you do last week.’”
Defense Department Statement on OPM Mail Guidance. pic.twitter.com/fq8V7ltI2A
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) February 23, 2025
Amid these conflicting responses, employee unions have condemned the mandate, arguing that it lacks legal authority. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has called the directive “disrespectful” and pledged to challenge any terminations that result from it.
However, President Donald Trump has expressed support for Musk’s initiative, stating that it will help reduce government inefficiency and identify waste, though critics argue that the directive could lead to mass layoffs and disruptions in essential government services.
Several lawmakers have questioned Musk’s authority to impose such requirements, with bipartisan concerns emerging about the legality of his directive. Legal experts have also raised issues regarding due process, with some advising federal employees not to comply until further clarification is provided.
In response to the directive, federal employees have filed a lawsuit against Musk, claiming that the requirement violates federal labor laws and established employment protections. The lawsuit seeks to prevent any terminations linked to the directive and to clarify whether Musk has the legal authority to enforce such a mandate.
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