Elon Musk & Donald Trump’s email sparks Federal employee backlash

In a shocking move, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have issued a bold directive to federal employees—either report their weekly accomplishments or face termination. This demand, sent via email on February 22, is part of their push to streamline government operations under the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

The Controversial Ultimatum

The email, titled “What did you do last week?” instructed all federal workers to submit a summary of their weekly achievements by Monday at 11:59 PM ET. It warned that failure to comply would be interpreted as voluntary resignation.

Musk reinforced the message on X (formerly Twitter), stating:

"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."

Government Agencies Push Back

The mandate was met with immediate resistance. Several federal agencies advised their employees to ignore the directive, raising concerns over legality and procedural violations.

FBI Director Kash Patel warned employees to “pause any responses” until further review, citing official government protocols.

Federal courts clarified that the email “did not originate from the judiciary or the administrative office” and should be disregarded.

Everett Kelley, President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), called the move “cruel and disrespectful,” vowing legal action against any unjust terminations.

Trump Calls for Even More Aggressive Cuts

Despite the backlash, Trump remains unwavering in his efforts to downsize the federal workforce. On Truth Social, he praised Musk’s efforts but urged even bolder action:

"Elon is doing a great job, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE! Remember, we have a COUNTRY TO SAVE, but ultimately, to make GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE. MAGA!"

Since taking over DOGE, Musk has already cut tens of thousands of federal jobs, slashing roles in science, environmental agencies, and regulatory offices. The Defense Department also announced a 5% reduction in its civilian workforce just days before the email directive.

Legal Battles & Public Protests

The drastic government overhaul has sparked nationwide protests, with demonstrations against mass layoffs, immigration crackdowns, and other Trump administration policies. Legal challenges are also mounting. A federal judge recently blocked DOGE from accessing Treasury Department systems that handle government payments, signaling potential legal hurdles ahead.

What’s Next?

As the deadline for federal employees nears, the country waits to see how this controversial policy unfolds. Is this a long-overdue effort to cut government inefficiency—or a dangerous power play dismantling the federal workforce? One thing is clear: Musk and Trump are only getting started.