Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, had some harsh words for the way DOGE was operating, calling the email sent to federal workers “intimidation,” and saying that she’s hearing from federal workers who are being “treated with a level of disregard to their service and to their tenure.”

Musk’s directive to federal employees to justify their jobs falls flat as the Office of Personnel Management says it's safe to disregard his message.

Some federal agencies, including the State and Defense Departments, told their employees not to respond to an email asking for a list of tasks they completed.