Elon Musk demands federal employees list weekly accomplishments or resign

On February 22, 2025, a controversial email was sent to federal employees in the United States, instructing them to detail their work accomplishments from the previous week. The directive originated from Elon Musk, who heads the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. This unexpected request has sparked confusion and unease among government workers, who were given a mere two-day window to respond. The email highlighted a deadline of 11:59 p.m. EST on February 24, 2025, and indicated that a lack of response would be viewed as a resignation. Despite Musk’s insistence that the task was simple and took only minutes to complete, responses varied across federal agencies. Some agency leaders swiftly instructed their staff not to comply with the request, stating that the email was unauthorized or unnecessary. For instance, the State Department specifically communicated that employees were not obligated to reply outside their departmental chain of command, while the National Weather Service and federal court system also advised employees to disregard Musk's email. This dichotomy created and amplified workplace chaos as many federal employees were caught in a web of conflicting directives from their bosses and the newly established DOGE. Criticism of Musk's approach came not only from union leaders but also from lawmakers who deemed the mandate potentially illegal, questioning whether such a demand could be enforced against civil service protections. Critics labeled Musk's email as disrespectful, particularly highlighting the challenge it posed to veterans employed in the civil service. Overall, the Musk-led initiative to reevaluate government efficiency faced strong backlash, leaving numerous civil servants uncertain about their roles and responsibilities amidst the administration's aggressive cost-cutting agenda.