A groundbreaking federal workforce audit demands government employees justify their weekly accomplishments or face termination.
According to the New York Post, President Trump has endorsed Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative requiring federal workers to submit weekly performance reports by Monday night or risk losing their jobs.
The Office of Personnel Management distributed an email to federal employees requesting five bullet points summarizing their previous week's achievements, with their managers copied. The directive has sparked intense debate between government officials and labor unions, leading to legal challenges and departmental conflicts.
Several major government departments have instructed their staff to disregard the mandate, including the Departments of Defense, State, Homeland Security, Commerce, and Energy. The FBI and Office of the Director of National Intelligence have also joined the opposition, emphasizing their independent review processes.
The White House has defended the initiative through deputy press secretary Anna Kelly. She criticized employees who chose to pursue legal action instead of complying with the simple request for work documentation.
Musk, who oversees DOGE's efforts to reduce federal spending, expressed his determination to enforce the directive. Trump shared Musk's perspective during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, as he stated:
What he's doing is saying, 'Are you actually working?' If people don't respond, it's very possible that there is no such person, or they aren't working.
The initiative has already resulted in significant workforce changes, with 65,000 federal employees accepting buyout offers. An additional 20,000 workers have either been terminated or placed on track for dismissal as part of DOGE's government downsizing efforts.
Labor unions, businesses, veterans, and conservation organizations have filed an updated lawsuit in San Francisco federal court. The State Democracy Defenders Fund's attorneys have labeled the mass firing threat as: "One of the most massive employment frauds in the history of this country."
The controversy has intensified as Musk maintains his stance, warning employees who don't take the email seriously to prepare for career changes. The deadline for responses was set for Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Trump alleges that DOGE has uncovered hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud, suggesting that some federal payroll recipients may be deceased or nonexistent. The president emphasized that non-responsive employees would face consequences, ranging from partial to complete termination.
The initiative represents a significant shift in federal employment practices, introducing private sector accountability measures to government operations. This transformation has created tension between traditional government workplace culture and new efficiency-focused management approaches.
The dispute highlights broader questions about government accountability and workforce management that continue to divide political leaders and public sector employees.
The Department of Government Efficiency's unprecedented email audit targeting federal workers has sparked a complex battle between the Trump administration and government agencies. The initiative, spearheaded by Elon Musk's DOGE, requires employees to provide weekly performance reports or face termination, while several major departments have instructed their staff to disregard the mandate. As legal challenges mount and thousands of workers either accept buyouts or face dismissal, the outcome of this sweeping reform effort remains uncertain.
