Tue Feb 25 15:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Backpedals on Musk’s Federal Employee “Productivity” Mandate

**Washington D.C.** – The Trump administration has reportedly reversed course on a weekend mandate issued by Elon Musk, requiring all federal employees to submit a weekly productivity report or face dismissal. The order, delivered via email and posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Musk, the head of President Trump’s newly formed “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), demanded a list of five accomplishments from each employee by Monday’s deadline.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the government’s HR department, swiftly intervened, informing agencies that employees would not be terminated for failing to comply. While OPM is reportedly pursuing the implementation of weekly reporting, it has not indicated how it will handle the numerous responses already received to Musk’s email, and has no plans to review them.

The mandate caused widespread confusion and resistance, with agencies like the FBI refusing to comply due to concerns about disclosing sensitive national security information. Sources report significant unease among agency heads regarding Musk’s authority and the sweeping changes he’s enacting within the federal workforce. The 2.3-million-strong federal workforce has already experienced significant disruption as a result of Musk’s cost-cutting measures.

Doug Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, described the situation as a “full revolt,” citing resistance from cabinet heads against Musk’s across-the-board cuts and attempts to centralize control.

President Trump, in a Monday afternoon press briefing, played down the conflict, suggesting that the exceptions granted to agencies like the FBI and State Department were simply to protect sensitive information. He characterized the mandate as “ingenious,” and implied widespread acceptance, apart from concerns about classified material. The administration’s about-face and the ongoing resistance reveal a significant internal struggle over Musk’s authority and the direction of government reform under the Trump administration.

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