In late February 2025, Elon Musk, appointed as the federal government’s cost-cutting czar, initiated a productivity review by sending an email to all federal employees, including those at the Department of Defense (DoD). The email requested recipients to detail their work activities from the previous week, prompting varied responses across federal agencies.
Initially, the DoD advised its civilian workforce to disregard Musk’s request due to concerns over security and authority. However, on February 27, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reversed this stance, directing all DoD civilian employees to comply with the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) request. Employees were instructed to submit five bullet points summarizing their weekly accomplishments, excluding any classified or sensitive information, and to include their supervisors in the responses. Failure to comply was warned to potentially lead to further review.
This directive aligns with a broader initiative led by Musk and supported by President Donald Trump to streamline government operations and reduce spending. The push for detailed weekly reports aims to assess the productivity of federal employees and identify areas for cost savings. However, the approach has faced criticism, with concerns about its impact on employee morale and the potential for overreach.
The mandate has sparked discussions about the balance between accountability and employee autonomy within federal agencies. While some view the initiative as a necessary step toward fiscal responsibility, others perceive it as an intrusion into professional work practices. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how these measures will affect the efficiency and culture of federal operations.
