A controversial email from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has sparked backlash after being shared on Elon Musk’s platform, X (formerly known as Twitter). The email, targeting nearly two million federal employees, requested a summary of their weekly accomplishments in bullet points and mandated that they copy their managers in their responses within just 24 hours.
As the email circulated widely, various federal agencies, including the Department of Defence and the FBI, promptly reassured employees that they were not obligated to comply with this directive. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents federal workers, condemned the email as “plainly unlawful” in an open letter. Union president Everett B. Kelley expressed significant frustration regarding the tone of the email, suggesting it undermined the professionalism and value of civil servants, leaving many feeling intimidated.
In response to the criticism, Musk defended the email, stating that the task should take no more than five minutes and emphasising that even basic bullet points were acceptable. He further claimed that failure to respond would be interpreted as a resignation, igniting further outrage.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump praised Musk’s actions through his platform Truth Social, urging him to be even more assertive about auditing government operations. Trump recently signed an executive order to collaborate with Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency, which aims to implement significant workforce reductions.
However, questions linger regarding the legality of such actions, as federal employees are generally protected from dismissal without proper cause, which typically includes poor performance or misconduct. There is a set process for appeals if an employee is fired. Recently, the OPM also offered a voluntary resignation option, which saw over 77,000 workers departing, effectively reducing the federal workforce by about three percent.
The situation highlights the ongoing tension between government efficiency initiatives and the protections afforded to federal workers, with many employees expressing concern about job security and the overall impact of these directives.