Elon Musk's Federal Worker Email Directive Faces Pushback and Compliance Shifts

Federal agencies remain divided over Musk's weekly email request for employee accomplishments, as some agency heads instruct compliance while others resist.

Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has initiated a second round of emails requiring federal employees to list weekly accomplishments, with a deadline of Monday at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reversed earlier guidance and directed Pentagon employees to comply, while agencies like the State Department and NASA have instructed staff not to respond.
The directive has caused confusion and resistance, with some agencies citing security risks and others questioning Musk's authority to enforce compliance.
Approximately half of federal employees responded to the initial email, but labor unions and Democratic lawmakers have criticized the initiative as unlawful and demoralizing for federal workers.
The emails are part of a broader Trump administration effort to reduce the federal workforce, which has already seen significant layoffs and buyouts, leading to operational disruptions in some agencies.