WASHINGTON:Following an unsuccessful attempt the previous week due to unclear instructions, the Trump administration sent out a second round of emails on Friday evening, directing all federal employees to provide a summary of their work over the past week.
Reuters confirmed that the emails, sent by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to multiple federal agencies, instructed employees to list five tasks they had completed.
This renewed effort is reportedly being led by billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, as the administration seeks to evaluate workforce performance amid plans for large-scale layoffs to reduce the federal government’s size significantly.
Mandatory Reporting Sparks Concerns
“The President has mandated this for the executive branch,” Musk wrote on X. He clarified that employees handling classified or sensitive matters must still respond but can simply state that their work is confidential.
Last week, Musk attempted to implement a similar directive, warning that non-compliant employees could face termination. However, resistance from agencies such as the State and Justice Departments, which instructed employees to follow standard reporting procedures, complicated enforcement. OPM later informed agencies that responding to the emails was voluntary.
Despite this, Musk, backed by President Donald Trump, continued to push for compliance, arguing that accountability measures were necessary. Both suggested that some federal employees on the payroll might not actually be working.
Critics, including labor unions and Democratic lawmakers, argue that mass layoffs could disrupt essential government services.
Enforcement and Compliance
While the second wave of emails does not explicitly threaten consequences for non-compliance, it states that employees are expected to submit responses at the beginning of each work week.
Reports indicate that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed Pentagon staff to comply. However, the State Department has once again advised employees to delay their responses, according to a directive reviewed by Reuters.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has directed its employees to submit reports to an internal DHS accountability email address due to national security concerns. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has also received the directive, with acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin, instructing his staff to comply.
Musk posted on Saturday that “all federal departments are cooperating with DOGE,” adding that for departments like the State Department and Department of Defense, supervisors were gathering weekly reports on behalf of individual employees.
Emails were also confirmed to have been sent to employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—all agencies that have reportedly been targeted for staff reductions.
Mass Layoffs Underway
The Trump administration has already overseen workforce reductions, with approximately 100,000 federal employees either accepting buyouts or being dismissed following the directive from DOGE. The federal workforce consists of roughly 2.3 million employees.
Layoffs have reportedly been implemented in a disorganized manner, forcing agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recall key personnel to ensure public safety.
On Friday, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced plans to cut 7,000 jobs and shut down several regional offices.
More recently, the administration disbanded a team of technology specialists that had modernized government websites and played a key role in developing the IRS’s free tax filing service.
In an email sent overnight to employees of the General Services Administration (GSA) and reviewed by Reuters, Thomas Shedd, Director of Technology Transformation Services, informed staff that the team, known as 18F, had been classified as “non-essential.”
Legal and Political Challenges
Musk’s involvement with DOGE has raised legal concerns, with multiple lawsuits challenging his and the agency’s access to government systems and sensitive data. These lawsuits argue that Musk and DOGE are exercising authority that traditionally belongs to agencies established by Congress or presidential appointees confirmed by the Senate.
Musk’s role has also reportedly led to some confusion within Trump’s White House staff, though the former president is said to fully support his efforts.
Despite growing scrutiny, the Trump administration has yet to clarify Musk’s official position within DOGE or his level of authority. Since Musk is not a Cabinet official and did not undergo Senate confirmation, his exact role within the administration remains ambiguous.
