US Federal workers are now facing a renewed and intensified push for accountability from the Trump administration, as President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk demand more frequent updates on their accomplishments. The new requirement follows an earlier round of emails asking employees to outline their activities, which prompted frustration and confusion among government workers.
In a bid to streamline the federal workforce, the Trump administration, supported by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, has now instituted weekly “pulse checks” that demand employees list their accomplishments from the previous week. This directive is part of a broader effort to downsize government agencies and address concerns that some federal workers may not be fulfilling their duties.
The new directive and response rate
A second round of emails, which began reaching federal employees late on March 2, 2025, requires workers to submit five bullet points outlining their weekly achievements by Monday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. This is a follow-up to the initial email sent on February 23, 2025, which had asked employees, “What did you do last week?” The message received a mixed response, with less than half of federal workers engaging with the request, as reported by the Associated Press.
The first email also threatened consequences for noncompliance, with Musk declaring that anyone failing to respond would be fired. However, many agencies issued contradictory guidance, instructing workers to ignore the email or not respond, especially in departments dealing with sensitive or classified work. This conflicting advice has led to some confusion about the true expectations from government staff.
The shift to weekly reports and the push for efficiency
As the new policy unfolds, the second email brings a crucial change in its structure. Instead of originating from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which lacks the power to hire or fire federal workers, the new emails are coming directly from the agencies overseeing career officials. This shift could make it easier to discipline workers who do not comply, as individual agencies are empowered to take more direct action.
The subject line of the second email reads, “What did you do last week? Part II,” and contains clear instructions for employees to send a weekly summary of their work. The email also stipulates that workers who deal with classified or sensitive information should simply state, “All of my activities are sensitive,” as noted by the Associated Press.
Trump’s stance and broader consequences
President Trump has publicly supported this initiative, suggesting that some federal employees may not even exist. He pointed out that non-responders are “on the bubble” and expressed dissatisfaction with their lack of engagement. Meanwhile, the administration’s strategy to shrink government departments continues, with some agencies like the Education Department offering $25,000 buyouts to staff as part of a significant reduction in force.
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