Enid, OK – Federal workers are finding themselves under increasing pressure to justify their productivity as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sends out a second round of emails asking employees to detail their accomplishments. This latest request, which came on Friday, demands that employees list five bullet points summarizing their work from the previous week. The email, titled “What did you do last week? Part II,” sets a clear deadline for completion: every Monday at 11:59 p.m. ET.
NewsNation obtained a copy of the email, which stresses the importance of brevity and clarity, noting that no links, attachments, or sensitive information should be included. This weekly request has raised concerns, particularly given the nature of the work many federal employees are engaged in, with certain agencies dealing with classified material.
For employees in sensitive positions, the OPM has included specific instructions in this week’s email: those who are involved in classified work are advised to reply simply with, “All of my activities are sensitive.” While the intent may be to streamline reporting, it also reflects the complexities of handling classified information in the context of such public demands for transparency.
The push for productivity reports comes amid a broader wave of scrutiny over the efficiency of the federal workforce. Earlier this week, billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk commented on the situation, suggesting that federal workers may need to provide further justification for their positions or risk losing their jobs. Musk’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment in some circles that government employees must demonstrate their value in an increasingly results-driven environment.
Some federal agencies have responded by advising their employees not to comply with these requests. FBI Director Kash Patel, along with other agency heads, instructed staff to refrain from responding to the productivity emails, citing the sensitive nature of their work. These agencies are particularly cautious about maintaining the confidentiality of their operations, which could be compromised by sharing details, even in a generalized report.
This increase in accountability has sparked a broader conversation about the balance between transparency and the need for privacy, particularly within agencies that handle classified or national security-related tasks. As the federal government continues to navigate demands for greater oversight, it remains to be seen how employees will adapt to this new level of scrutiny without compromising the integrity of their work.
With growing pressure from both the public and private sectors, federal workers now face an ongoing challenge: prove their productivity without breaching security protocols or risking their jobs.
