Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed civilian employees at the Pentagon to respond to a request from the Trump administration to outline their job achievements. In a video message, Hegseth referred to this request as a 'pulse check' and mentioned that further instructions would follow after employees respond to an email from the Office of Personnel Management regarding compliance with federal workforce guidelines.
In a memo circulated to Pentagon staff and obtained by a source, Hegseth mandated that all civilian employees provide five bullet points detailing their accomplishments from the previous week. Initially, Defense Department leaders had advised employees to hold off on responding to the OPM request.
Hegseth emphasized that employees should refrain from including any classified information in their responses. He outlined the directive clearly, stating that employees must reply to the email, copy their supervisor, and provide a summary of their activities from the previous week without disclosing sensitive information.
Recognizing the dedication of civilian Pentagon employees to national defense, Hegseth praised them as 'civilian patriots' who play a crucial role in safeguarding the nation's security. Elon Musk, a key figure supporting the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal government's size, expressed appreciation for Hegseth's video message.
Musk, who serves as the CEO of a prominent company, had previously warned federal workers that failure to respond to the initial OPM email would be viewed as a resignation. However, subsequent guidance from agency leaders has advised employees not to reply to the message as its implications are being reviewed.
