The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has advised federal agencies that a directive from Elon Musk federal employee weekly work achievement lists—is voluntary and noncompliance will not be treated as a resignation. The instruction from OPM came after multiple agencies questioned the legitimacy and enforceability of Musk’s demand, originally sent in late February.
Musk, appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had issued the directive as part of his mandate to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in federal operations. Modeled after reporting structures used at Musk’s private companies, the requirement asked federal workers to list five specific achievements per week or risk termination.
However, federal agencies have increasingly resisted the mandate. Some, like the Environmental Protection Agency, labeled the reports “encouraged, but optional.” The National Institutes of Health told employees this month that the mandate had ended. OPM further confirmed to human resources officers across departments that they would not be reviewing or acting upon the submitted reports.
Though compliance has declined, some agencies still promote the reporting effort. The Securities and Exchange Commission, for instance, continues to reference the request in its internal communications. But enforcement appears uneven and largely symbolic. Reports have surfaced of bounced emails due to full inboxes at human resources departments, raising further doubts about the initiative’s execution and intent.
Musk’s role as head of DOGE was part of President Trump’s broader effort to overhaul federal bureaucracy. However, Politico reported that Musk may soon step back from the position, according to conversations held with Trump’s inner circle earlier this month.
While Musk’s strategy mirrors his private-sector approach at Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), the federal workforce, bound by union protections and civil service regulations, has proven far more resistant to such top-down corporate mandates.
