Pentagon Drops DOGE’s Weekly Reports, Urges Efficiency Ideas Instead

The Pentagon has officially scrapped the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) mandate for civilian employees to submit weekly productivity reports, a policy that had sparked both controversy and confusion. Initially rolled out in February under the guidance of billionaire Elon Musk, the so-called "five bullet exercise" required federal workers to justify their roles by listing weekly accomplishments. The directive, intended to root out inefficiency, instead sowed frustration across agencies.

In a recent email, Jay Hurst, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, announced the end of the weekly reports. Instead, employees are now encouraged to submit at least one idea by Wednesday to streamline operations or cut waste at the Defense Department. This shift comes as other agencies, like the National Institutes of Health, have also phased out the reports.

The policy’s origins trace back to Musk’s push for federal accountability, with a stern warning that failure to comply would be treated as resignation. However, pushback was swift. The Defense Department, State Department, and FBI initially advised employees to hold off, while the Office of Personnel Management later clarified the reports were voluntary. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefly enforced the mandate, but the Pentagon has now aligned with the broader retreat from the policy.

As Musk steps back from DOGE to focus on Tesla, SpaceX, and X, the unraveling of the weekly report initiative reflects a broader recalibration of efforts to overhaul government efficiency.