Federal Agency calls DOGE's 5-bullet email ‘An Opportunity’—Here’s their advice on how to respond
A federal agency sees DOGE’s 5-bullet email as ‘an opportunity’ rather than a challenge. Read their official advice on how workers should respond.
A federal agency has characterized DOGE’s 5-bullet email as "an opportunity" rather than a disruption, urging government employees to approach it with strategic responses. While the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has stirred debate with its direct, cost-cutting directives, agencies are now offering guidance on how employees should handle these communications.
Social Security Administration urges compliance: ‘A chance to highlight your work’
The Social Security Administration (SSA) was quick to validate the OPM email, advising employees that the request is legitimate and must be taken seriously.
“You must take the action requested by the deadline,” SSA’s human resources department stated in an internal email, reviewed by Business Insider.
The email required employees to submit five bullet points detailing their work by Monday at 11:59 p.m. EST. Photo: Yahoo News
Employees were encouraged to review their most impactful work from the past week and showcase accomplishments that align with SSA’s public service mission and the administration’s goals.
“This is an opportunity to highlight the important work you do that helps impact the lives of those we serve.”
According to one SSA employee, agency management has instructed workers to follow the directive and has scheduled a meeting to discuss next steps.
Department of Defense rejects the directive
Unlike SSA, the Department of Defense (DOD) has taken the opposite approach, instructing its workforce not to respond to the OPM email.
“The Department of Defense is responsible for reviewing the performance of its personnel and it will conduct any review in accordance with its own procedures,” the agency posted on X
This stance signals that the DOD will not comply with the request and instead intends to handle performance evaluations internally, rather than submitting productivity reports to OPM or DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency).
Federal Agencies await further clarification
As the debate over the OPM email continues, federal agencies are awaiting further instructions on how to proceed. The response so far has been inconsistent, with some agencies complying while others refuse to participate.
The situation will likely evolve based on:
- OPM’s next steps—Will they enforce compliance or clarify expectations?
- Individual agency decisions—More agencies may choose to follow DOD’s rejection stance.
- Employee pushback—If confusion and frustration grow, the administration may face additional resistance.
For now, federal employees are left navigating the uncertainty, weighing the risks of complying or ignoring the request.