DoD drops ‘What You Did Last Week’ initiative for civilian employees

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May 30, 2025

A requirement for Department of Defense civilian employees that drew mockery and criticism has been terminated, the DoD announced today.

Interim Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jules W. Hurst III informed the DoD civilian workforce via email last week that the department would conclude the weekly “What You Did Last Week” initiative today, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.

Hurst asked employees to share in their final submission one concrete idea to enhance efficiency or root out waste, Parnell said in a news release.

In February, the Department of Defense asked its civilian employees to submit an email detailing five of their accomplishments from the previous week.The directive was announced in a memorandum from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called “Guidance for Department of Defense Civilian Employees on Responding to the Office of Personnel Management’s ‘What You Did Last Week’ Email.”

“This initiative provided leaders and supervisors with additional insights into their employees’ contributions, fostered accountability, and helped to identify opportunities for greater efficiency and effectiveness throughout the Department,” Parnell said. “The department remains committed to driving meaningful change in support of the mission.”

Courtesy of 256 Today

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