Agencies proceed carefully with OPM email requesting list of achievements
Government agencies across the United States proceeded cautiously when responding to the Office of Personnel Management’s recent request that federal employees detail their accomplishments from the previous week. The Securities and Exchange Commission opted to provide workers with a template to guide their responses. Meanwhile, the General Services Administration and the Department of Commerce issued warnings to their staff about not including classified information, links, or attachments in their replies. The Department of Defense even advised employees to temporarily withhold their responses. However, it later became clear that participation was not mandatory for all federal workers. The SEC confirmed to its employees that they had the option not to respond, as did the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice.
In light of potential security concerns, departments like the HHS explicitly conveyed the importance of assuming that responses could be read by malicious foreign actors. This cautionary measure was intended to mitigate the risks of sensitive information falling into the wrong hands. Similarly, the SEC strictly instructed employees who chose to engage with the request to adhere to the template they provided, limiting the details shared to only what was necessary. Kenneth A. Johnson, the SEC’s Chief Operating Officer, emphasized restricting additional information beyond the provided format due to the agency’s work’s non-public and sensitive nature.
The initial email from the OPM titled “What did you do last week?” prompted responses from federal workers. While the message set a deadline for submission by the end of Monday, it did not specify any consequences for non-compliance. A prior announcement by Elon Musk, a senior adviser to President Trump, hinted at possible repercussions for failing to respond. Despite Musk’s forewarning, the emails ultimately steered clear of threats related to employment termination.
As agencies grappled with how best to approach this unexpected request, varying conclusions emerged regarding the necessity and manner of response. The SEC initially advised employees to await further guidance before replying. Similarly, the HHS directed its staff to delay responses until additional instructions were issued. Concerns over the sensitivity of the data to be shared prompted some departments, like the GSA, to underscore the exclusion of procurement-sensitive information in addition to classified details.
According to Nick Hart, President and CEO of the Data Foundation, OPM’s data collection initiative carries more complexity than meets the eye. He stressed the importance of aligning with data protection principles outlined in Federal Data Strategy to ensure data collected by the government is minimally invasive while serving a useful purpose. When contemplating such data collection requests, it is crucial to review the questions posed, adopt appropriate methods for data collection, and prioritize information safeguarding. This careful consideration aims to streamline the collection process, safeguarding both individual privacy and data integrity.
