In a controversial move, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plans to analyze federal employees' work summaries using artificial intelligence to determine if their jobs are necessary, according to multiple sources familiar with the system.
The initiative began when DOGE head Elon Musk announced that all federal workers would receive an email requesting details about their weekly accomplishments. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) subsequently sent emails asking employees to provide five bullet points describing their recent work, specifically requesting no attachments or classified information.
Sources reveal these responses will be processed by a Large Language Model (LLM) - an advanced AI system that analyzes text data to evaluate whether positions are mission-critical. The prohibition on attachments and links was specifically implemented to facilitate AI processing.
The directive has sparked intense debate and resistance. Several agencies, including the Justice Department, FBI, State Department, and National Security Agency, instructed their employees not to respond. Union representatives filed lawsuits challenging the legality of the process.
President Trump praised the initiative, suggesting it would identify non-existent or non-working employees. However, Senator Lisa Murkowski criticized DOGE's approach as "intimidation" that disregards federal workers' service.
The AI-driven evaluation system has already shown flaws. Recent reports indicate DOGE had to reinstate numerous FDA medical device division employees and nuclear safety personnel after hasty terminations revealed their roles were actually essential.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed the AI implementation, stating Musk has "created algorithms constantly crawling through the data" to transform government operations. However, a federal judge recently restricted DOGE's access to sensitive Treasury systems, citing their "chaotic and haphazard approach."
As the deadline passed Monday night, OPM has not disclosed response rates or next steps. The White House has declined to comment on whether the initiative will proceed as planned.