The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is back with another demand for federal employees: Prove your worth or risk consequences. In reportedly a move spearheaded by President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk, workers across federal agencies received an email this week titled, “What did you do last week? Part II.”
The email, reportedly sent from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), caught many by surprise, as it was originally expected to come from individual agencies. According to multiple reports, the new directive requires workers to submit five bullet points detailing their weekly accomplishments—due every Monday by 11:59 p.m. EST.
‘Do you have a pulse?’: Musk weighs in
The mandate, aimed at cutting government waste, has stirred controversy. Addressing concerns during Trump’s first full Cabinet meeting, Musk dismissed criticisms.
“I think that email was perhaps interpreted as a performance review, but actually, it was a pulse check,” Musk quipped. “And if you have a pulse and two neurons, you could reply to an email.”
Classified work? Just say so
Unlike the previous email, this one explicitly instructs workers not to disclose classified or sensitive information. Employees whose tasks are entirely classified are reportedly told to respond with: “All of my activities are sensitive.”
Musk reiterated the importance of compliance, responding to a tweet about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instructing Department of Defense employees to respond.
“The President has made it clear that this is mandatory for the executive branch,” Musk wrote on X. “Anyone working on classified or other sensitive matters is still required to respond if they receive the email, but can simply reply that their work is sensitive.”
Trump: Non-responders risk being fired
During his Oval Office meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump defended the measure, making it clear that failing to respond could have serious consequences.
“If you don’t answer, you don’t need to be here,” Trump said.
As the federal workforce scrambles to comply, critics are questioning whether this is about efficiency—or intimidation.
