Elon Musk has again influenced official communications within the federal government. On Saturday afternoon, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), reportedly filled with Musk supporters, issued an email directing employees to submit five bullet points outlining their achievements from the previous week and to copy their manager on the email. Musk emphasized via a post on X that non-compliance with this directive would be considered a resignation.
This action follows President Donald Trump’s call for Musk to adopt a more assertive approach. Trump, on Truth Social, commended Musk’s performance but expressed a desire to see him become more aggressive, underscoring the importance of advancing the country’s interests towards making it greater. Musk responded affirmatively to the President via a post on X.
The directive is reminiscent of a communication Musk sent to Twitter staff in June 2023, with instructions to refrain from including classified information, links, or attachments in their responses. Sources have confirmed that agencies handling classified information, including the FBI, IRS, NIH, and FAA, received similar notifications, with a deadline set for Monday at 11:59 PM EST.
A current federal employee, who wished to remain anonymous due to restrictions on public commentary, criticized the move as an attempt to undermine democracy and distress federal workers, likening it to a gameplay strategy that advances by eliminating staff.
Recently, the Trump administration has significantly reduced its workforce, laying off numerous probationary employees, particularly those involved with nuclear security, veterans, and the Department of Agriculture amidst efforts to control a bird flu pandemic. The Department of Government Efficiency has reportedly sought to suspend or dismantle agencies like the United States Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
It remains uncertain whether OPM possesses the authority to enforce resignations for non-compliance with the email directive. Laurie Burgess, an attorney experienced in labor disputes involving Twitter and SpaceX, highlighted the unclear legal jurisdiction as many watchdog agencies face reductions. Burgess noted pending cases before the National Labor Relations Board, expressing concerns about its future viability.
In a similar vein, OPM’s January communication to federal workers, titled “Fork in the Road,” echoed a previous note Musk sent to Twitter employees in November 2022. That email directed staff to return to the office full-time, emphasizing qualities like reliability and excellence, offering a deferred resignation option for non-compliant individuals. The White House reported that approximately 75,000 federal workers opted for the buyout.
