Trump talks about DOGE emails, Musk from Oval Workplace
President Trump answered questions on a spread of matters after signing extra govt order from the Oval Workplace. The president was requested concerning the DOGE emails, which requested federal employees to element what they did prior to now week utilizing 5 bullet factors. “It is considerably voluntary,” Trump mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s additionally I suppose when you do not reply, you get fired.”
WASHINGTON – A second spherical of emails requiring federal staff to listing their latest accomplishments is about to exit Saturday, however this time, it will likely be instantly from their businesses, making it more durable to disregard.
The transfer is a part of an effort by President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk to tighten management over the federal workforce as a part of their cost-cutting and downsizing agenda.
The primary e mail, despatched every week in the past, requested employees “What did you do final week?” and required them to listing 5 accomplished duties. Nevertheless, the request led to confusion and pushback, with many businesses telling staff to not reply or issuing conflicting steerage.Â
Lower than half of federal employees complied, based on the White Home.
What’s altering within the second e mail?
What we all know:
In contrast to the primary e mail, which was distributed by the Workplace of Personnel Administration (OPM), this spherical will come instantly from particular person businesses, which have the ability to implement compliance. The change is predicted to make it simpler to self-discipline staff who fail to reply.
Chief of the Division of Authorities Effectivity Elon Musk wears a shirt that claims “Tech Help” as he speaks throughout a cupboard assembly with US President Donald Trump on the White Home in Washington, DC, on February 26, 2025. (Chief of the Division of Authorities Effectivity Elon Musk wears a shirt that claims “Tech Help” as he speaks throughout a cupboard assembly with US President Donald Trump on the White Home in Washington, DC, on February 26, 2025.)
At Trump’s first Cupboard assembly of his second time period, Musk defended the demand, calling it a “pulse examine” to make sure that authorities employees “have a pulse and two neurons.” Trump backed Musk’s strategy, claiming that some federal staff “don’t exist” or are now not alive—although he offered no proof to assist the declare.
What we do not know:
It stays unclear how nationwide safety businesses will deal with the request. After the primary e mail, businesses dealing with categorized work advised staff to not reply attributable to safety issues. The White Home has not specified how the brand new e mail will apply to those departments.
Moreover, Trump and Musk haven’t outlined what penalties employees would possibly face in the event that they fail to reply once more. Trump has urged that those that ignored the primary request are “on the bubble” and liable to being fired or investigated.
Job cuts and buyouts already underway
What’s subsequent:
Whereas federal staff await extra readability on the e-mail, layoffs are already starting.
The Training Division has supplied $25,000 buyouts to some staff, warning them of an impending “very important Discount in Drive.” The company has set a Monday deadline for employees to simply accept the buyout supply.
A memo circulated this week indicated that large-scale layoffs and program consolidations are anticipated throughout a number of businesses as a part of Trump’s authorities restructuring efforts.
The Supply: This report is predicated on Related Press reporting, statements from the White Home and federal businesses, and inner authorities memos detailing deliberate workforce reductions. Particulars on the primary e mail marketing campaign have been sourced from The Washington Publish and official authorities correspondence.
