In a move that has sparked confusion and frustration across the federal workforce, the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) office sent an email to federal employees on Saturday, asking them to detail their accomplishments from the previous week. The email, with the subject line “What did you do last week?”, instructed recipients to reply with approximately five bullet points summarizing their work and to include their manager in the response. The deadline for submission was set for Monday at 11:59 p.m. EST, with a warning not to include classified information, links, or attachments.
Background and controversy
This initiative follows President Donald Trump’s directive to Elon Musk, the head of DOGE, to “get more aggressive” in reducing the federal bureaucracy. Musk had previously hinted at the email on his social media platform X, stating that failure to respond would be interpreted as a resignation, although the actual email did not mention any consequences for non-response.
Employee reactions
Federal employees have expressed widespread frustration and uncertainty about how to respond to the email. A Department of Education employee noted that their work was on hold due to ongoing reviews, leaving them unsure of how to proceed. Other employees described the request as “pure harassment” and speculated about potential layoffs based on responses or lack thereof.
Pushback from agencies
Several federal agencies have advised their employees not to respond to the email immediately. The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have instructed staff to wait for further guidance, citing concerns about the email’s legitimacy and potential security risks. This pushback highlights a growing rift between some Trump administration officials and Elon Musk’s aggressive reform efforts.
The email is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce. Since Trump’s second term began, about 77,000 federal workers have accepted buyouts, and numerous layoffs have occurred across key agencies. The move has been criticized by unions and employees, who argue that it undermines essential public services and demonstrates a disregard for federal workers.