In a surprising move that has raised eyebrows across the federal workforce, President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have jointly rolled out an unprecedented directive aimed at federal employees. According to reports, an email titled “What did you do last week?” has been sent to every federal worker, demanding a summary of their accomplishments from the previous week—or face the risk of being considered as having resigned. A Shift Toward Greater Accountability?

The email, which was sent out on Saturday, February 22, gives federal employees a direct instruction: reply with five brief bullet points that highlight the work they completed during the past week. Employees are also asked to copy their managers in the response and are prohibited from including classified information, links, or attachments. The deadline for submission is set at 11:59 PM EST on Monday.

Elon Musk tweeted a clarification about the directive, stating: “As per President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will soon receive an email requesting an update on their productivity last week. Failure to respond will be treated as resignation.”

This directive is part of a wider effort by the Trump administration to overhaul the way federal agencies operate, with an emphasis on cutting down what they view as bureaucratic inefficiencies. The new initiative, led in part by Musk, has been dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As a “special government employee,” Musk’s involvement signals the administration’s desire to reduce layers of government red tape, eliminate redundant regulations, and curb wasteful spending. Context for the Directive

This move comes shortly after President Trump’s appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he underscored his administration’s commitment to dismantling bureaucratic structures. The email directive seems to be a direct attempt to enforce individual accountability. The blunt subject line, “What did you do last week?” calls for transparency and offers a direct approach to measuring federal productivity.

The email’s call for employees to identify their accomplishments with just five bullet points is seen by some as a step towards cutting inefficiencies. Supporters argue that it will provide insight into individual productivity levels and help pinpoint areas in need of improvement. The hope is that such a report would push employees to articulate their contributions and provide clearer oversight of government operations.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The directive leaves little room for ambiguity. One employee shared a screenshot of the email, which read: “Please reply with approximately five bullet points summarizing your work last week, and cc your manager. Do not send classified information, links, or attachments. Deadline: Monday at 11:59 PM EST.” The clear ultimatum is that failing to comply with the request will be treated as a resignation, sparking both concern and debate over the fairness of such a measure.

Many federal workers and unions are expressing concern over the drastic nature of the directive. Critics argue that this ultimatum undermines standard employment procedures and could lead to unnecessary stress for government workers. Some worry that the approach may disproportionately impact those working in departments that require long-term projects, which cannot be easily condensed into a few bullet points. Mixed Reactions from Federal Employees

The response to the email has been swift and divided. Some have praised the move as an essential step toward greater government accountability. Supporters argue that answering the email should be a straightforward task for productive employees, claiming that the measure promotes efficiency by ensuring that federal workers are clear about their daily objectives.

On the other hand, several federal officials have expressed concern about the abrupt nature of the directive. FBI Director Kash Patel cautioned that all responses should be handled carefully and in accordance with existing protocols, especially given the sensitive nature of government work. Similarly, federal courts have advised employees not to act immediately, urging caution until further clarification is received.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has strongly condemned the directive, with President Everett Kelley calling the move “disrespectful” to public servants. The union warned that any consequences arising from non-compliance would lead to legal challenges, framing the email as an unlawful overreach into federal employees’ rights.

Cultural Shift in Federal Operations

The new directive from Trump and Musk is not just about a single email. It represents a broader attempt to change the culture within federal agencies. The administration’s push to impose accountability across all levels of government is meant to streamline operations and reduce inefficiencies. However, critics argue that it risks alienating experienced workers, many of whom may feel that such measures ignore the complexity of their roles.

By reducing a wide range of responsibilities to a simple checklist, the administration may unintentionally overlook the collaborative nature of federal work and the difficulty in quantifying certain types of contributions. Federal employees often work on multi-faceted projects that are not easily summarized, which could lead to misrepresentation of their work or inaccurate assessments of their productivity.

A New Model for Government Reform

This directive is part of a broader pattern of reform-minded initiatives introduced by the Trump administration, aiming to reshape the way federal agencies operate. The creation of DOGE and the involvement of Musk as a government employee are indications of the administration’s desire to break from traditional bureaucratic norms. Whether this results in an overall more efficient government or leads to greater turnover among workers remains to be seen.

As the directive’s consequences unfold, the larger implications for the U.S. government workforce are becoming a key topic of debate. The next few days will be crucial in determining how the new directive will affect federal agencies and whether it will achieve its goals without undermining the morale and rights of federal employees. Only time will tell if this bold approach will lead to positive changes or further disruption in the federal government.