Federal employees are expressing concerns about new emails from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), initiated under Elon Musk's leadership of the DOGE initiative. These emails require employees to list five accomplishments from the previous week, a practice some describe as harassing and anxiety-inducing.
One federal worker, identified as Cathy, shared her experience with MSNBC at a Virginia town hall. She explained the pressure of working even on weekends to catch up, only to receive the DOGE email adding to the stress. She characterized the emails as "threatening and harassing." Cathy expressed difficulty maintaining focus amidst the perceived pressure to justify her job.
Elon Musk, leading President Trump's DOGE program, has advocated for these weekly accomplishment reports. The emails, with subject lines like "What did you do last week? Part II," have sparked controversy and widespread discussion on social media and news outlets.
The latest email mandates employees to reply with approximately five bullet points detailing their weekly achievements and to copy their managers. A deadline of 11:59 pm ET on Monday has been set, with additional instructions for those working with sensitive information.
MSNBC's Ali Vitali reported on the town hall, revealing that some federal workers are seeking anxiety medication to cope with the stress. Vitali conveyed the widespread anxiety among employees regarding their financial stability and capacity to serve the public effectively.
Another individual, a federal contractor named Andrea, described the atmosphere as being "on pins and needles." She highlighted the dedication of tenured professionals nearing retirement who are trying to persevere despite the added pressure. Andrea emphasized the inherent stress of their work, particularly within the defense department, and how the DOGE emails exacerbate this.
These accounts paint a picture of heightened tension and concern within the federal workforce in response to the new reporting requirements implemented under the DOGE initiative.
