Key takeaways:

• Elon Musk has ordered federal employees to submit weekly work summaries or face termination.
• This initiative follows a directive from President Trump aiming to aggressively cut the federal workforce.
• The American Federation of Government Employees has condemned the move and plans to contest any unlawful firings.

In a surprising ultimatum, billionaire Elon Musk, head of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), announced that federal employees must explain their weekly accomplishments or risk being fired. This directive, communicated through a post on the social media platform X, arrives in the wake of President Trump’s advocacy for more rigorous government downsizing efforts.Source

Musk stated, "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." This communication has sparked concern among employees, particularly given that they are expected to submit their responses in five bullet points by the upcoming Monday evening, as indicated in the corresponding email sent from a human resources address.Source

The implications of this order extend beyond immediate job security. Many federal workers, especially those within agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Centers for Disease Control, are facing confusion as recent court orders have restricted their capacity to perform essential duties. Such mismanagement in staffing has raised alarm over the potential loss of critical services to the American public.Source

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents federal workers, has denounced Musk's directive as "cruel and disrespectful," asserting intentions to legally contest any terminations that they deem illegal. The union's president, Everett Kelley, criticized the Trump administration’s attitude toward federal employees, highlighting the essential functions they provide to society.

This latest fare involves an aggressive reshaping of the federal workforce, previously underscored by a wave of mass firings targeting recent hires and probationary employees. Though the administration champions these drastic cuts as necessary for efficiency, many fear the broader impact on local economies and essential government functions.

Overall, while Musk remains positioned as a primary figure in DOGE's restructuring efforts, questions linger regarding the legality of his authority and the long-term consequences for the federal workforce across the nation.