'What did you do last week?': Trump and Musk intensify federal workforce scrutiny

WASHINGTON — Federal employees began receiving a second round of emails late Friday requiring them to report their recent accomplishments, marking an escalated effort by President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to assess and potentially downsize the government workforce.

The latest email, titled “What did you do last week? Part II,” follows a controversial initial request sent a week ago, which instructed employees to list five completed tasks or risk termination.

The Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by Musk, has been empowered by Trump to streamline federal agencies, with the goal of eliminating thousands of jobs.

Unlike the first email, which was sent through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the second round appears to have been distributed via individual agencies, raising concerns about enforcement and potential disciplinary actions for noncompliance.

Some employees at multiple agencies reported receiving the new request from internal department addresses, while others saw it arrive from “hr@opm.gov,” the same email address used in the initial communication.

The message instructs employees to submit a response by 11:59 p.m. Eastern each Monday and to copy their managers on their replies.

It also provides new instructions for workers in national security agencies, many of whom were previously told not to respond due to the classified nature of their work.

The latest email suggests that if all activities are classified, employees should simply state, “All of my activities are sensitive.”

Security experts warn that even a vague acknowledgment of classified work could pose risks, as emails leave digital footprints.

At his first Cabinet meeting of his second term on Wednesday, Trump reaffirmed his support for Musk’s approach, calling it a “pulse check” to determine if federal employees are engaged in their roles.

“We need to know that people have a pulse and two neurons,” Musk said during the meeting, reiterating his claim that the federal government employs "ghost workers" or individuals who are not actively contributing.

Trump, echoing Musk's skepticism, suggested that some non-respondents might not exist at all.

“Maybe we’re paying people that don’t exist,” Trump stated without evidence, adding that those who failed to reply to the first email are now “on the bubble.”

The pressure campaign is unfolding amid broader restructuring efforts. The Education Department has already begun offering employees a $25,000 buyout, warning of impending layoffs as part of a “very significant Reduction in Force.” A department-wide email instructed employees to decide on the buyout by Monday. — Agencies