The deadline is approaching for federal employees to meet Elon Musk’s second request for reports on their recent achievements, setting off apprehension among the workforce. Musk and President Donald Trump have warned that those who fail to comply may face termination. The request, which involves listing five accomplishments from the previous week, is seen as a means to enhance accountability within the expansive government structure.
The directive has caused distress and uncertainty among many workers as the new administration asserts control over the federal apparatus. Some agencies are advising their personnel either not to respond at all or to be cautious in their replies, echoing the caution issued following Musk’s initial demand last month.
Based on recent directives circulating among employees, it appears that workers will be required to submit lists of accomplishments every Monday. The federal government employs approximately 2.4 million individuals, excluding active-duty military and postal workers, with 80% of them stationed outside the Washington, D.C. area.
At the Food and Drug Administration, employees were bombarded with three emails in quick succession on Monday. The notifications ranged from informing them about the request in the early hours to instructing them on the response protocol later in the day. Employees were instructed to provide a vague overview of their accomplishments, avoiding sensitive information, grant specifics, or naming colleagues.
Similar guidelines were issued at the Department of Energy, a crucial entity overseeing the country’s nuclear arsenal. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized the exclusion of sensitive or classified data, links, or attachments in the submissions. Employees were advised to respond with “All of my activities are sensitive” if applicable.
Conversely, the State Department informed its staff that the leadership would handle their responses. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Prisons allowed employees to indicate that revealing their duties could jeopardize institution security or operations.
Although the initial request for listing achievements was deemed optional by the Office of Personnel Management following Musk’s layoff warnings, this time, individual agencies themselves are issuing the requests and have the authority to take disciplinary actions.
During Trump’s recent Cabinet meeting, Musk defended the requirement as a simple “pulse check,” implying that anyone with basic cognitive abilities could comply.
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Contributions to this report by Associated Press writers Matthew Perrone, Rebecca Santana, Matthew Lee, and Michael Sisak.
