Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and founder of SpaceX, has issued a stark warning to federal employees, including those at NASA, that they could face forced resignation if they fail to respond to a simple six-word email demand. Musk, who is leading Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been tasked with cutting federal spending, and his latest tactic involves a seemingly straightforward email asking employees to summarize their work from the previous week.
The email, with the subject line “What did you do last week?” instructs federal workers to reply with approximately five bullet points outlining their accomplishments. Employees are also required to copy their managers in the response. The email emphasizes that no classified information, links, or attachments should be included, and sets a strict deadline for replies. Musk warned on social media that failure to respond would be interpreted as a resignation.
This move is part of Musk’s broader efforts to streamline government operations and reduce costs. Under his leadership, the DOGE has reportedly saved $55 billion in federal funds, although this figure has yet to be independently verified. Musk’s cost-cutting measures have included slashing funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as foreign aid.
However, the email has raised eyebrows, with some comparing it to phishing attempts due to its lack of clear identification as an official DOGE communication. Despite the concerns, Musk has made it clear that the directive is in line with President Trump’s instructions to improve government efficiency.
NASA employees, in particular, have been advised to proceed cautiously. Managers at NASA’s Space Operations Mission group instructed staff to hold off on responding until they could ensure compliance with agency protocols. Similarly, engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston were told to pause their responses and avoid disclosing proprietary or sensitive information. A NASA spokesperson indicated that the agency would provide further guidance to its workforce.
The situation is particularly ironic given Musk’s close ties to NASA through SpaceX, which has received billions of dollars in federal contracts from the agency.
In fact, SpaceX is NASA’s second-largest private contractor, with contracts totaling $2.25 billion in the 2024 fiscal year alone. This includes recent contracts worth over $57 million awarded earlier this year. SpaceX is also set to play a key role in NASA’s upcoming PUNCH mission, which will study the sun’s atmosphere using a Falcon 9 rocket.
Musk’s dual role as a government efficiency czar and a major federal contractor has sparked controversy, with critics questioning the potential conflict of interest.
His latest directive, while aimed at improving accountability, has also been met with skepticism and concern among federal employees, particularly those at NASA, who are now navigating the delicate balance between compliance and protecting sensitive information. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this approach will impact government operations and employee morale.
