As Elon Musk steps back from the White House, the Department of Government Efficiency’s mandated “5 Things” emails are reportedly being phased out at several agencies.
One of the sweeping reforms that Musk’s DOGE attempted to implement was a mandatory reporting system, in which all federal employees were required to submit five work-related achievements at the end of every week.
Now, some agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), are putting a pause on the emails, Business Insider reports.
Newsweek reached out to DOGE and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) for comment.
Why It Matters
The end of the email mandates at some agencies comes as several attempts by DOGE to change the federal government, including canceling government contracts and gutting the United States Institute of Peace, are undergoing lawsuits or have been struck down by a judge.
During his time at the White House, Musk has been widely criticized for his role in the mass firing of federal employees, including nuclear weapons experts and social security administrators.
Elon Musk at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, February 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Elon Musk at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, February 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Jose Luis Magana, File/AP Photo
What To Know
When Musk rolled out the email mandate in February 2025, he posted to X (formerly Twitter) saying that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”
The emails were intended to track productivity across the federal government.
Some agencies are still requiring them, while others are phasing them out. CDC and IRS employees have been informed that the email system is on pause; however, they will still be subject to appraisals and performance reviews, Business Insider reported.
Defense Department (DOD) civilian employees are also no longer required to send the five-point email. However, they have been asked to send in emails about what is not working at the department, and what they believe should be done to fix it.
Office of Personnel Management employees have been told that they are still “encouraged” to send their “5 Things” email, and Employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Social Security Administration (SSA) are also still required to send in their weekly achievements, according to Business Insider.
What People Are Saying
A spokesperson for OPM said in a statement to Business Insider: “OPM employees are still encouraged to document their weekly accomplishments for agency leadership. This practice is vital to maintain accountability and transparency in employee contributions.”
What Happens Next
Several DOGE actions are currently undergoing legal challenges, so other actions taken by Musk and his team may be subject to change over the upcoming months.
Musk has said he will spend less money on politics in the future.
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