The Trump administration recently stirred concern among U.S. federal employees by demanding detailed accounts of their work accomplishments, a request sent via email late Saturday evening. The directive gave employees until 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday to submit five bullet points summarizing their work activities from the preceding week. Failure to comply with this mandate, as declared by Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), would be interpreted as resignation.
The emails distributed originated from a human resources address associated with the Office of Personnel Management. Recipients included employees from several federal agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. Among those also receiving the email were federal judiciary employees, despite the court system not being part of the executive branch.
"To be clear, this is irregular, unexpected and warrants further validation by management," – A NOAA employee
The suddenness of this directive, combined with the potential consequences of non-compliance, has sparked outrage among federal employees. Concerns have arisen over the legality and validity of Musk's request, particularly given that the White House previously stated Musk had no authority over DOGE and was not officially an employee of the program.
Despite its broader implications, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has yet to respond to requests for comments on the matter. Meanwhile, organizations like the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) have vowed to contest any unlawful terminations arising from this situation.
"Once again, Elon Musk and the Trump administration have shown their utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people," – Everett Kelley, the AFGE's president
The DOGE under Musk's leadership has already faced scrutiny due to its handling of employee terminations. The initiative has led to haphazard firings and subsequent errors that necessitated rapid rehiring processes for essential positions. The initial wave of staff reductions targeted employees on probationary terms or those who had recently transitioned into new roles within their agencies.
A source at a federal agency suggested that these actions underscore a broader issue regarding administrative oversight and respect for federal workers' roles.
"a source at a federal agency said."
Leave a Reply