Federal Workers Told to Document Weekly Accomplishments, Agencies Respond with Mixed Directives
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently sent an email to federal workers with the subject line "What did you do last week?" instructing them to reply with five accomplishments from the past week. The directive, which was part of an initiative led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), set a deadline of Monday at 11:59 PM for responses. Musk implied that failure to comply could be interpreted as resignation, adding severity to the request.
However, in a subsequent call with agency heads, OPM clarified that individual agencies could decide how to handle the directive. This led to a mixed response across federal departments. Agencies such as the Justice Department, FBI, and State Department advised their employees to disregard the request, while others, including the Transportation and Education Departments, instructed their staff to comply.
The situation has caused significant confusion among federal employees, with some feeling pressured by the resignation threat and others opting to follow their agency’s guidance to ignore the directive. President Trump publicly supported the effort, but the divided agency responses have created uncertainty and potential anxiety among workers.
The purpose of collecting these accomplishments remains unclear, as OPM stated there were no plans to utilize the submitted information. This lack of clarity has raised questions about the initiative’s intent, whether it’s aimed at enhancing accountability or efficiency, and the potential impact on employee morale and trust in leadership.
In summary, the OPM’s directive has led to varied responses from federal agencies, resulting in confusion and tension among employees. The unclear purpose and mixed compliance directives have left many questioning the initiative’s effectiveness and potential consequences for the government workforce.
