In a move that has sent shockwaves through the federal workforce, President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have jointly issued an unprecedented ultimatum to all federal employees. According to multiple reports, an email titled “What did you do last week?” has been dispatched to every federal employee, mandating that they submit a brief report on their accomplishments during the previous workweek—or be considered to have resigned.
A New Era of Government Efficiency?
The email, sent out on Saturday, February 22, outlines a straightforward but stark instruction: federal employees are required to reply with approximately five bullet points summarizing their work from the past week. The message instructs recipients to cc their direct managers, and it strictly prohibits the inclusion of any classified information, links, or attachments. The deadline for compliance is set at 11:59 PM EST on Monday.
Elon Musk took to Twitter to clarify the directive, tweeting:
“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.”
This directive forms part of a broader initiative by Trump’s administration to streamline federal operations and reduce what they perceive as bureaucratic inefficiency. Under the banner of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is being led in part by Musk—who has been officially designated as a “special government employee”—the administration aims to dismantle layers of government bureaucracy, slash redundant regulations, and cut wasteful spending across federal agencies.
Responding to this email would take less than 2 minutes for any truly productive person.
Why is this in any way controversial? pic.twitter.com/vm1Yig5bRi
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol)
Context Behind the Directive
The ultimatum arrives in the wake of several dramatic changes already underway in the federal government. Following President Trump’s recent appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he reiterated his commitment to “dismantle Government Bureaucracy,” the new email directive appears designed to enforce accountability at an individual level.
The email’s subject line, “What did you do last week?” is a blunt call for transparency and productivity, a sentiment echoed by high-ranking officials within the Trump administration. Proponents of the measure argue that such a report will help cut through inefficiencies by ensuring that every federal employee can clearly articulate their contributions. In theory, this should help identify areas where performance is lacking and prompt corrective action.
The Message That Could Mean Resignation
The email itself is terse and unambiguous. One employee shared a screenshot of the message online, which read:
“Please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager. Please do not send any classified information, links, or attachments. Deadline is this Monday at 11:59 PM EST.”
With this directive, the administration is sending a clear message: failure to comply with this simple accountability measure will be interpreted as an effective resignation. This has stirred considerable controversy, as the move is seen by many as both a drastic and unprecedented method to enforce productivity—and a potential violation of federal employment norms.
Mixed Reactions from the Federal Workforce and Beyond
The response to this directive has been swift and polarized. On social media, some commentators have hailed the measure as a step toward meaningful government reform. Matt Van Swol, a Twitter user, quipped that responding to the email “would take less than 2 minutes for any truly productive person.” However, many others have expressed concern about the potential for misuse and the chilling effect it could have on federal employees.
FBI Director Kash Patel advised caution in response to the directive. Speaking to Sky News, Patel stated:
“The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures. When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses.”
Similarly, federal court officials have urged employees not to rush into compliance. In statements obtained by CNN, officials stressed that the email did not originate from any judiciary or administrative office and recommended that no immediate action be taken until further notice.
Unsurprisingly, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has strongly condemned the ultimatum. AFGE President Everett Kelley described the move as “cruel and disrespectful” to federal workers. Kelley further warned that the union would challenge any unlawful terminations resulting from non-compliance with this directive. “This is an unprecedented assault on the rights of federal employees,” Kelley asserted, emphasizing that any punitive measures taken as a result of this email could be met with legal challenges.
Implications for Federal Administration and Public Sector Culture
The directive from Musk and Trump is more than just an administrative memo; it is emblematic of a broader strategy to radically transform the culture of federal employment. By imposing a blanket accountability measure on all federal employees, the administration appears intent on reducing perceived inefficiencies and ensuring that every worker is contributing to the government’s objectives. However, critics argue that such a top-down mandate risks alienating dedicated public servants and could lead to a significant loss of experienced personnel, undermining the very efficiency it seeks to promote.
Moreover, there are concerns about the fairness and feasibility of the measure. Federal work is often complex and multifaceted, with contributions that cannot be easily distilled into a few bullet points. By reducing productivity to a simple checklist, critics warn, the administration may be ignoring the nuances of public service and the collaborative nature of many government operations.
A Snapshot of a New Administrative Approach
This drastic new measure is part of a series of bold initiatives by the Trump administration, which has been rapidly reshaping federal operations in its first months in office. With the appointment of high-profile figures like Elon Musk and the formation of DOGE, the administration is setting a tone of aggressive reform that departs sharply from traditional bureaucratic norms. Whether these changes will result in a more efficient and responsive government—or whether they will lead to increased discord and turnover among federal employees—remains to be seen.
As federal workers brace for the fallout from this email ultimatum, the broader implications for the U.S. government and its workforce are becoming a subject of intense debate. The coming days will be critical in determining how this directive is implemented and whether it will achieve its intended goals of streamlining operations without sacrificing the rights and job security of federal employees.
