Federal government retracts Elon Musk's email requiring justification of job roles by federal employees under the Trump administration.
In a significant shift, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced the discontinuation of the weekly accomplishment emails for federal employees. The decision comes after a period of resistance and confusion surrounding the program, which was initially implemented by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
The emails, often marked with high importance or red exclamation marks, had been a point of contention among federal workers since their introduction in February. Musk, who was granted special government employee status to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, had announced that all federal employees would have to respond to these emails detailing their weekly accomplishments, or it would be considered a resignation.
However, the OPM has now stated that the program is no longer necessary, as managers are accountable for staying informed about their team's work and have many existing tools to do so. The "five things" email process, as it was known, was deemed redundant and perhaps ineffective.
The rollout of the program had caused backlash and confusion, leading to some employees and agencies ignoring the mandate or handling it internally rather than formally reporting. Furthermore, Musk's departure from the Department of Government Efficiency in May 2025 and his falling out with President Trump contributed to the program's discontinuation.
Discord between Musk and Trump erupted in June due to clashes over the president's tax and domestic policy bill. Following Musk's departure, many agencies, including the Department of Defense, ended the practice or discontinued it outright.
The OPM has also announced its plans to support agencies as they transition to rigorous performance management, including regular check-ins. The emails with the subject line "What did you do last week?" will no longer be sent with an ultimatum, and responding to them will be voluntary. Any failure to respond will not equate to a resignation.
Reuters first reported the plan to formally stop sending the email, marking a significant step towards easing the burden on federal workers. The move comes roughly two months after Musk stated that his time in the Trump administration had come "to an end."
In a recent development, Musk has announced his intention to form a new political party following his falling out with President Trump. The exact nature and goals of this new party remain to be seen.
The Office of Personnel Management, in essence, serves as the human resources department of the federal government. Its decision to discontinue the weekly accomplishment emails and focus on rigorous performance management reflects a shift towards a more flexible and employee-friendly approach.
The discontinuation of the weekly accomplishment emails by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) signifies a shift towards a more flexible and employee-friendly approach, as the emails were deemed redundant and potentially ineffective. This decision was partially influenced by Musk's departure from the Department of Government Efficiency and his falling out with President Trump, leading to many agencies ending the practice. In a recent development, Musk has announced his intention to form a new political party, highlighting the ongoing influence of politics on policy-and-legislation and general-news.
