Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently sent emails to federal government employees, asking them to outline their work from the past week. The productivity report, sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), required federal workers to provide five bullet points detailing their tasks. Responses were due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

Musk, who oversees DOGE, warned that failing to respond would be considered as resignation. “The bar is very low here,” he clarified in a post on X. “An email with simple, sensible bullet points should take less than five minutes to write.”

Musk and former President Trump have emphasized that DOGE’s main goal is to cut government spending and improve efficiency.

Andres Lares, managing partner of Shapiro Negotiations Institute, spoke with FOX Business about the potential effects of DOGE’s approach. “Sudden demands for employees to list accomplishments rarely boost motivation,” he explained. “Such requests often create fear, not engagement. Studies show trust-based accountability systems tend to yield better results.”

Lares noted that while holding workers accountable is important, DOGE’s request may lead to rushed, low-quality responses, wasting time and resources in the review process. He also pointed out that government work involves more than just answering emails, making the approach difficult to maintain long-term.

“What works in a fast-paced tech environment doesn’t always translate well to government structures,” Lares added. “There are benefits to running government like a business, but many of these changes may be hard to implement quickly due to government’s unique structure.”

Psychotherapist and executive coach Jonathan Alpert also discussed the differences between the private sector and government operations. “Musk’s world values speed, efficiency, and rapid problem-solving, while the government relies on checks and balances that can slow decisions,” he said. “A high-frequency update system could boost efficiency, but it could also lead to anxiety and resistance among employees not used to this pace.”

Alpert suggested that while regular updates can drive progress, they must be balanced with the need for deep thinking and flexibility, which are essential in complex government work.

President Trump expressed support for DOGE’s approach, saying it was aimed at identifying workers’ productivity and ensuring government funds are spent effectively. “If employees don’t respond, it’s possible they aren’t doing their jobs or don’t exist,” Trump said, referring to the request. However, he noted that some departments, like the FBI, handle sensitive tasks and may need exceptions.

The American Federation of Government Employees criticized DOGE’s email, calling it “intimidating” and “confusing.”

DOGE, which was created through an executive order from President Trump in January 2020, aims to complete its cost-cutting efforts by July of next year. The department has set a goal of cutting $2 trillion in government spending, with Musk expressing confidence in reaching $1 trillion in savings.