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Federal Agencies Respond to Elon Musk’s DOGE Email Compliance and Resistance Observed
When Elon Musk, chair of the Department of Government Efficiency known as DOGE, sent an email urging federal staffers to summarize their weekly productivity or face termination, reactions varied significantly across agencies. While many agencies embraced the directive, others advised their employees to disregard it.
Widespread Engagement from Federal Workers
A substantial one million federal workers acknowledged Musk’s request, as confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She emphasized the need for efficiency, stating, “All federal workers should be working at the same pace that President Trump is working and moving. We have a country to save, and we want this federal government to be responsive to the needs of the American people who re-elected this president to have historic, massive reform. And that’s what the intention of this idea is.”
Elon Musk’s Directive Unfolds
Musk made the announcement on social media, stressing that noncompliance would equate to a voluntary resignation. In a post on X, Musk stated, “Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” This framework positioned the email not just as a routine inquiry, but as a crucial directive from the administration.
Second Chances for Noncompliance
Even after the initial deadline had passed, Musk indicated that employees who did not respond would receive another opportunity to comply. He noted, “Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance to respond.” This conditional second chance highlighted the administration’s intent to ensure maximum accountability.
Guidance from the White House
The White House later advised agencies to handle compliance at their discretion. A White House official remarked, “Agencies should consider any appropriate actions regarding employees who fail to respond to activity. It is agency leadership’s decision as to what actions are taken.” This officially underscored the decentralized nature of authority in deciding how to address the directive.
Agencies that Embraced the Directive
Several agency leaders actively engaged with the initiative. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, for instance, publicly shared five accomplishments via X, which included significant project updates and accountability measures. Duffy’s post read, “Mr. President, 5 things I did last week: 1. Terminated NYC elitist, anti-worker congestion pricing. 2. Launched an investigation into the $16 billion in taxpayer dollars wasted on a high-speed rail project that, after 17 years, has yet to lay a single mile of track.” His actions illustrated a strong commitment to transparency and productivity.
Veterans Affairs Department Takes Initiative
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins shared his own update on social media, detailing the processing of one million disability claims and a review aimed at identifying wasteful contracts. He emphasized his department’s dedication to maximizing health care choices for veterans, promising more details on future developments soon.
Small Business Administration’s Focus
Under Secretary Kelly Loeffler, the Small Business Administration highlighted its efforts to cut burdensome regulations affecting small businesses. Loeffler’s outlined initiatives included the establishment of the Office of Manufacturing and Trade, and the formation of a fraud working group to analyze loan fraud. Such efforts indicate the administration’s focus on fostering growth in the small business sector.
Agencies that Resisted Musk’s Directive
Conversely, several high-profile agencies opted not to comply with Musk’s email directive. Darin Selnick, performing the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, issued a clear directive to pause any response to the OPM email. In his memo to Pentagon staff, he outlined the need for a coordinated response only when necessary, indicating a more cautious approach than the one advocated by Musk.
State Department’s Stance
The State Department also clarified that employees were not obligated to respond to the email. Acting undersecretary of management Tibor Nagy assured staff that departmental oversight would handle communications, alleviating individual employee pressure.
FBI’s Response to Noncompliance
Similarly, FBI Director Kash Patel instructed personnel to disregard Musk’s email, emphasizing the Bureau’s internal review process. Patel reassured employees that the FBI would manage any necessary coordination in accordance with established policies. This decision aimed to maintain the integrity of the FBI’s operational security.
Other Federal Agencies Exercise Caution
While the Department of Health and Human Services did not explicitly direct employees to ignore the email, it advised caution in responses. According to internal communications, HHS recommended that responses be drafted with care, ensuring that sensitive information remained protected.
Presidential Remarks on Agency Compliance
President Trump responded to the resistance from several agencies, describing their decision as friendly and understandable given their confidential work. He remarked on the nature of the information each agency handles, acknowledging the unique contexts in which some departments operate.
Looking Ahead to Future Compliance and Accountability
The response to Musk’s DOGE email exemplifies the dynamic between directive and discretion within federal agencies. While some leaders seized the initiative to reaffirm agency accomplishments, others exercised a more cautious approach, emphasizing the need for established protocols. As this situation continues to evolve, the future of governmental productivity under Musk’s leadership will undoubtedly attract interest, scrutiny, and perhaps more changes.
Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.
