Overview

• 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.