Latest news with #SiliconValley-style
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Pentagon ends Elon Musk's weekly ‘What Did You Do?' emails as DOGE era winds down
Pentagon ends Elon Musk's weekly 'What Did You Do?' emails as DOGE era winds down In a move that marks the symbolic end of Elon Musk 's short-lived but highly disruptive tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ), the Pentagon has officially halted the weekly email directive that required federal workers to submit a list of five work-related accomplishments. The policy, initiated under Musk's controversial leadership, was widely criticized by civilian employees and lawmakers alike, drawing fire for its tone, implications, and lack of practicality. The emails, bluntly titled 'What did you do last week?' , were rolled out across the US federal workforce in March 2025, just weeks after Musk was appointed to the newly formed DOGE by President Donald Trump. What began as a Musk-style corporate tactic to monitor productivity quickly escalated into a bureaucratic flashpoint. With over 2.3 million government employees receiving the mandate, the measure sparked confusion, anxiety, and political backlash—particularly when Musk warned on social media that failing to respond would be considered a de facto resignation. Now, with Musk preparing to leave his post, the Pentagon is pivoting away from the 'five bullet' performance reports. In its place, employees are being asked to contribute one idea to improve efficiency or eliminate waste, encouraging a more collaborative and less punitive approach. The shift is being seen as both an administrative reset and a political distancing from Musk's influence in the federal apparatus. How Elon Musk's weekly 'What did you do last week' email sent federal employees into frenzy Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Что говорит о вашем характере поза, в которой вы спите! Удивительные Новости Undo In February 2025, shortly after the Department of Government Efficiency was announced as part of President Trump's second-term initiative to cut federal spending, Elon Musk was tapped to lead the charge. Known for his unorthodox leadership at Tesla and SpaceX, Musk wasted no time applying a Silicon Valley-style management technique to Washington. On February 22, 2025, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter): 'Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump's instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.' That statement sent shockwaves through federal agencies. Although initially dismissed as hyperbole, it was soon followed by official memos directing employees to submit weekly updates with five 'bullet points' outlining their accomplishments. The directive was rolled out via the Office of Personnel Management and reached departments as varied as Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Energy. Backlash from within and beyond the Pentagon Despite the directive's goal of enhancing transparency and accountability, it faced swift resistance. Civilian employees—many with military backgrounds or years of public service—expressed frustration over what they viewed as a demeaning exercise. Congressman Joe Courtney, ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, was particularly vocal. In an interview, he stated: 'For months, dedicated Defense Department civilians received Elon Musk's insulting 'five things' emails. Many of these people served in the military, are highly trained and experienced, and are doing this job because they actually care about the mission.' Internal communications within the Department of Defense initially advised employees to ignore the emails, but by late March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had reversed course, issuing his own memo requiring weekly reports. He warned that 'non-compliance may lead to further review,' further escalating tensions. Pentagon ends Elon Musk's weekly email policy, calls for ideas to cut waste On May 29, 2025, the Pentagon formally scrapped the policy. Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Jules Hurst, sent out an email thanking staff for their participation and announcing a final request: 'To conclude the 'five bullet' exercise, we need one last input from you… Please submit one idea that will improve the Department's efficiency or root out waste.' The directive, while ending one controversial practice, hinted at a desire to maintain momentum in reforming bloated or inefficient systems—this time, by inviting employee creativity rather than mandating performance summaries. According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, the now-discontinued emails had provided 'insights into their employees' contributions, fostered accountability, and helped to identify opportunities for greater efficiency.' However, he added that the department remains committed to 'driving meaningful change' without relying on burdensome oversight tactics. Elon Musk's exit and reflections on his federal tenure Elon Musk's time in Washington was brief but intensely scrutinized. Though technically a special government employee, Musk brought outsized attention to DOGE and stirred controversy through a combination of blunt rhetoric, sweeping policy ideas, and his high-profile alignment with the Trump administration. On the same day the Pentagon ended the email directive, Musk confirmed via X that his role in the federal government was drawing to a close. He thanked President Trump for the opportunity and expressed disappointment in the limited fiscal impact DOGE had achieved. 'The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,' Musk posted. However, he also criticized the lack of concrete budget cuts in what he described as the 'big, beautiful bill' endorsed by the administration, signaling a rift between his expectations and the political realities of Washington. What comes next for DOGE and government efficiency With Musk stepping down, the future of the Department of Government Efficiency remains uncertain. While the Trump administration insists DOGE will remain operational, the departure of its flagship figure—and the public disapproval of some of its methods—has raised questions about the department's long-term viability. For now, Defense Secretary Hegseth appears to be redirecting the efficiency campaign toward more conventional and collaborative methods. By soliciting employee ideas to reduce waste, the department hopes to retain the original spirit of reform without the heavy-handed tactics associated with Musk. The deadline for staff to submit their efficiency proposals was midday Wednesday, though the Pentagon has not disclosed what ideas have been submitted or whether any will be implemented. Also read | Urgent cyber warning for Americans: 184 million passwords leaked; are you at risk AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
The Bulletin May 30, 2025
The rundown: Last week, Elon Musk said he had "done enough" after spending five months working hand in hand with President Donald Trump as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Here's what experts have to say. Why it matters: The tech mogul entered politics last year with the explicit purpose of getting Trump elected for a second term as president, spending more than $75 million in the process. While Musk achieved that goal, experts told Newsweek that his time at the White House would come to be seen as a mixed bag, especially with the big expectations the billionaire had attached to his signature project, DOGE. "Musk succeeded in grabbing attention and rebranding government reform as a Silicon Valley-style disruption," Casey Burgat, the director of legislative affairs at George Washington University, said. "But beyond the optics, DOGE has fallen far short of its promises." Read more in-depth coverage: Donald Trump Taking DOGE Lead After Elon Musk Exit TL/DR: While Musk has steadily increased his political commentary over the past several years, his firsthand involvement in campaigning began during the 2024 presidential election. What happens now? Musk said in a recent meeting with Tesla investors that he would be spending more time with the company. He said in April, "I think starting probably next month, May, my time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly." Deeper reading Was Elon Musk's Foray Into Politics a Success? Experts Weigh In
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Was Elon Musk's Foray Into Politics a Success? Experts Weigh In
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Last week, Elon Musk said he had "done enough" after spending five months working hand in hand with President Donald Trump as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. As the tech CEO's focus swings away from the White House and back to the companies that made him the richest man in the world, Newsweek asked experts whether his time on the front line of politics was a success or a failure. Newsweek has contacted Musk for comment via the press office for X, formerly Twitter. The Context While Musk has steadily increased his political commentary over the past several years, his firsthand involvement in campaigning began during the 2024 presidential election. He endorsed Trump after the Pennsylvania assassination attempt and donated millions to the Republican's campaign via America PAC, Musk's super political action committee. After Trump's victory in November, Musk joined his team as the head of DOGE, a project the billionaire had pitched on the campaign trail to cut federal spending and reduce the size of the government. What To Know The tech mogul entered politics last year with the explicit purpose of getting Trump elected for a second term as president, spending more than $75 million in the process. While Musk achieved that goal, experts told Newsweek that his time at the White House would come to be seen as a mixed bag, especially with the big expectations the billionaire had attached to his signature project, DOGE. "Musk succeeded in grabbing attention and rebranding government reform as a Silicon Valley-style disruption," Casey Burgat, the director of legislative affairs at George Washington University, said. "But beyond the optics, DOGE has fallen far short of its promises." "The administration pledged $2 trillion in savings; independent reviews suggest only a fraction of that has materialized, and even those numbers are riddled with accounting errors and double-counted wins," he added. DOGE's own count of its savings puts the total at $170 billion, and even though it's far less than Musk's original pledge, he has been one of the figures in Trump's circle most strongly associated with cuts to federal spending, prompting protests against his companies, most notably Tesla. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty Burgat continued: "Musk's reputation has undergone a sharp recalibration. For years, he cultivated a persona as an eccentric but brilliant innovator. But his stint with DOGE placed him squarely in the political arena—where admiration curdles fast. "For critics, he's become a symbol of unaccountable power: a billionaire with a government badge, running roughshod over norms and institutions. "Even many conservatives who cheered his takedowns of federal 'bloat' are now quietly distancing themselves as the legal challenges pile up and as Musk's more erratic behavior—including the targeting of public officials and abrupt policy reversals—becomes a political liability." Eric Schiffer, a top tech investor and the chair of the private equity firm Patriarch Organization, told Newsweek that recency bias was still affecting public perception of Musk's political spree, and that over time it would be seen differently, much like Trump himself. Elon Musk, left, and President Donald Trump shaking hands during the men's NCAA wrestling competition at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on March 22. Elon Musk, left, and President Donald Trump shaking hands during the men's NCAA wrestling competition at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on March 22. Getty Images Schiffer said: "The public backlash is a question of 'how much of this is real?' No one really knows how deep it is with the Trump administration up to this point, and they're directing that anger at a vulnerability of Trump, which is Elon, and his wealth." He also said that while Tesla's reputation was slumping, its sales numbers remained strong, and the peak of anti-Musk protests had likely passed. Schiffer continued: "So far, he's holding up fairly well. In China, the numbers are still strong. We're going to have to see how it shakes out. The challenge is the same in Europe and overseas, where he's associated with draconian policies. But that could also turn. "As tariffs begin to be integrated, and Elon distances himself from the administration, people won't retain long-term negative biases. They dissipate over time." Conversely, Burgat said Musk's time in politics served to accelerate polarization, with those who support him going even further, while his critics grew to oppose him even more. "Among the public, the polarization has intensified," he said. "For fans, he's still a maverick hero; for skeptics, he's morphed into something far more dangerous: a privatized version of government without the guardrails." What Happens Next Musk said in a recent meeting with Tesla investors that he would be spending more time with the company. He said in April, "I think starting probably next month, May, my time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly." Vice President JD Vance echoed the sentiment that DOGE would continue in some form without Musk, telling reporters: "DOGE has got a lot of work to do, and that work is going to continue after Elon leaves. But fundamentally, Elon is going to remain a friend and an adviser of both me and the president."
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Bitcoin Beach: How a small seaside town became cryptocurrency ground zero
The populist Salvadorian leader, who has fashioned himself a Silicon Valley-style disrupter, signed a $US1.4 billion-deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the bogeyman of Bitcoiners, in which he agreed to scale back the country's Bitcoin policies. As part of the agreement, Salvadorian merchants are no longer compelled to accept the cryptocurrency as payment and Bukele agreed on paper to stop buying Bitcoin with public cash – the country currently owns more than 6,000 Bitcoin – although he has since said their strategy is not stopping. So what will this gear-change mean for 'Bitcoin Beach'? 'It's gonna keep some people away, definitely,' says Ronny Avendano, who runs the Bitcoin Hardware Store, which sells all the Bitcoin bells and whistles including tech and books about the cryptocurrency. 'The IMF is definitely a governing body that you want to stay as far away from as possible... It might be detrimental to the business,' he adds. While he does not think the IMF deal will impact life in El Zonte, where Bitcoin is already enmeshed in the community, he worries it could cause some Bitcoiners to get 'cold feet'. Loading Avendano, whose parents fled El Salvador for Canada during the civil war, gave up his six-figure job in finance in Toronto to travel Latin America in response to Justin Trudeau's vaccine mandates. His first stop was El Zonte in March 2021. He has been here ever since. After learning about Bitcoin, he became a 'Bitcoin maximalist', investing all of his savings in the cryptocurrency. Right now, he says, he only has around $US9. When Bukele announced Bitcoin would be a legal tender, he saw an 'influx' of Bitcoiners from all over the world arrive. Talking to The Telegraph after giving a short lesson on investing in the courtyard outside his shop, he adds: 'From a tourist perspective, you know, I don't feel that excitement anymore... It used to be 'I can't wait to come to El Salvador' to now 'tell you what's going on with this deal'.' He adds: 'For me, nothing's changed. People in town still accept Bitcoin, and I still love the Bitcoin farmers market. Yesterday, I went to buy food at the grocery store in Bitcoin. 'I don't know what's gonna happen over the next six months if it were to change... I'd have to close my business down.' Mr Avendano believes it's not just Bitcoin pulling foreigners to El Salvador, but the country's safety. To combat gang violence, Bukele enforced a 'state of exception' in 2022, rounding up and imprisoning more than 80,000 people without due process. The streets are safer, but the Bukele administration has faced allegations of human rights abuses. His administration also built the notorious Cecot mega-prison, where Donald Trump has since deported Venezuelan migrants the White House claims are gang members. Walter Mena, a Salvadorian lawyer, was reluctant to open a business before Bukele, when even El Zonte was overrun by gangs and it was not uncommon for people to be shot dead on the beach. But now Mena, 49, who returned to El Salvador in 2019 after living in France for 15 years, is in the midst of constructing apartments he hopes to rent to wealthy Bitcoiners Mena, who accepts Bitcoin payment for his legal services, does not think the IMF deal will make any difference. Loading 'Now people know what Bitcoin is and how to use it... Bukele is pretty smart, and the IMF is full of dinosaurs,' he said. 'People probably will turn back, but the people who understand, who are already here, they're not leaving.' For locals in El Zonte, the sudden arrival of foreign Bitcoiners has been a blessing and a curse. Wealthy foreigners have been investing in the area, buying land, building homes and starting businesses. But prices have increased, and for each tale of one local making enough money to buy a new motorcycle with Bitcoin, there are stories of those who lost thousands in the volatile market. El Salvador 'like Wild West' Surf teacher Isaac Reyes, 28, who is from El Zonte, says there have been more positive impacts than negative on the local community. He is sometimes paid in Bitcoin but he and most of the locals transfer it straight into dollars using an app on their phone. He said he believes the novelty of Bitcoin Beach had already reached its 'peak' and is now 'going back down'. 'Now the difference is the people, not the currency… less people are coming,' he said. From speaking to the Europeans who have already moved to El Salvador in search of Bitcoin freedom, there is no hesitation – they are here to stay. M moved to El Salvador from London in 2021 after he broke up with his girlfriend and read about Bukele. Talking to The Telegraph as he sips on a can of beer with a friend, purchased with Bitcoin, he says he did not know El Salvador existed before he read about the Salvadorian president. M, 28, who did not want to give his full name, now lives in San Salvador. He first bought Bitcoin almost a decade ago when he was at university and now works for a hardware Bitcoin devices firm. Asked what he likes most about the country, he said: 'The fact that I can just easily use my Bitcoin everywhere.' Danny, a retired Belgian housebuilder who also did not want to give his last name, made his fortune in Bitcoin before moving to El Zonte 20 months ago in search of a crypto haven to retire to. You wouldn't know it by looking at him, as he sits on a stool wearing a vest and flip flops, but Danny, 59, is a Bitcoin millionaire. He invested his life savings in 2014, when one Bitcoin was worth around $US311. The value has since swelled to over $US108,000. He believes Europe is becoming a 'police state' and part of the reason he has relocated to El Zonte is to provide a base for his nine grandchildren to escape to if they wish. El Salvador, by contrast, he says is like the Wild West. 'There are not many rules, or not many rules that you really need to follow... there is almost no control.' James Bosworth, the founder of Hxagon, a firm which provides political risk analysis with a focus on Latin America, is also unconvinced the IMF deal will have much of an impact. 'Bitcoin experiment has been a failure' He puts the apparent dwindling numbers of people visiting Bitcoin Beach down to the town losing its sheen, rather than the IMF deal. 'It's probably more a function of the initial hype cycle about El Salvador's Bitcoin drawing down and global macro factors (likely recession hits all tourism),' he says. He adds: 'There are only so many people who might relocate and most of them jumped early. For anyone still considering it, the IMF agreement didn't change much.' Dr Peter Howson, an assistant professor at Northumbria University who has written books on cryptocurrency, thinks Bukele's Bitcoin experiment has been a 'failure'. Loading In 2023, eight out of 10 Salvadorians did not use cryptocurrency, according to a survey by the University Institute of Public Opinion (Iudop) at the José Simeón Cañas Central American University (UCA). Meanwhile, only a fraction of remittances sent back to El Salvador from relatives abroad, which accounts for 25 per cent of the country's GDP, were sent with Bitcoin.
The Age
5 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Bitcoin Beach: How a small seaside town became cryptocurrency ground zero
The populist Salvadorian leader, who has fashioned himself a Silicon Valley-style disrupter, signed a $US1.4 billion-deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the bogeyman of Bitcoiners, in which he agreed to scale back the country's Bitcoin policies. As part of the agreement, Salvadorian merchants are no longer compelled to accept the cryptocurrency as payment and Bukele agreed on paper to stop buying Bitcoin with public cash – the country currently owns more than 6,000 Bitcoin – although he has since said their strategy is not stopping. So what will this gear-change mean for 'Bitcoin Beach'? 'It's gonna keep some people away, definitely,' says Ronny Avendano, who runs the Bitcoin Hardware Store, which sells all the Bitcoin bells and whistles including tech and books about the cryptocurrency. 'The IMF is definitely a governing body that you want to stay as far away from as possible... It might be detrimental to the business,' he adds. While he does not think the IMF deal will impact life in El Zonte, where Bitcoin is already enmeshed in the community, he worries it could cause some Bitcoiners to get 'cold feet'. Loading Avendano, whose parents fled El Salvador for Canada during the civil war, gave up his six-figure job in finance in Toronto to travel Latin America in response to Justin Trudeau's vaccine mandates. His first stop was El Zonte in March 2021. He has been here ever since. After learning about Bitcoin, he became a 'Bitcoin maximalist', investing all of his savings in the cryptocurrency. Right now, he says, he only has around $US9. When Bukele announced Bitcoin would be a legal tender, he saw an 'influx' of Bitcoiners from all over the world arrive. Talking to The Telegraph after giving a short lesson on investing in the courtyard outside his shop, he adds: 'From a tourist perspective, you know, I don't feel that excitement anymore... It used to be 'I can't wait to come to El Salvador' to now 'tell you what's going on with this deal'.' He adds: 'For me, nothing's changed. People in town still accept Bitcoin, and I still love the Bitcoin farmers market. Yesterday, I went to buy food at the grocery store in Bitcoin. 'I don't know what's gonna happen over the next six months if it were to change... I'd have to close my business down.' Mr Avendano believes it's not just Bitcoin pulling foreigners to El Salvador, but the country's safety. To combat gang violence, Bukele enforced a 'state of exception' in 2022, rounding up and imprisoning more than 80,000 people without due process. The streets are safer, but the Bukele administration has faced allegations of human rights abuses. His administration also built the notorious Cecot mega-prison, where Donald Trump has since deported Venezuelan migrants the White House claims are gang members. Walter Mena, a Salvadorian lawyer, was reluctant to open a business before Bukele, when even El Zonte was overrun by gangs and it was not uncommon for people to be shot dead on the beach. But now Mena, 49, who returned to El Salvador in 2019 after living in France for 15 years, is in the midst of constructing apartments he hopes to rent to wealthy Bitcoiners Mena, who accepts Bitcoin payment for his legal services, does not think the IMF deal will make any difference. Loading 'Now people know what Bitcoin is and how to use it... Bukele is pretty smart, and the IMF is full of dinosaurs,' he said. 'People probably will turn back, but the people who understand, who are already here, they're not leaving.' For locals in El Zonte, the sudden arrival of foreign Bitcoiners has been a blessing and a curse. Wealthy foreigners have been investing in the area, buying land, building homes and starting businesses. But prices have increased, and for each tale of one local making enough money to buy a new motorcycle with Bitcoin, there are stories of those who lost thousands in the volatile market. El Salvador 'like Wild West' Surf teacher Isaac Reyes, 28, who is from El Zonte, says there have been more positive impacts than negative on the local community. He is sometimes paid in Bitcoin but he and most of the locals transfer it straight into dollars using an app on their phone. He said he believes the novelty of Bitcoin Beach had already reached its 'peak' and is now 'going back down'. 'Now the difference is the people, not the currency… less people are coming,' he said. From speaking to the Europeans who have already moved to El Salvador in search of Bitcoin freedom, there is no hesitation – they are here to stay. M moved to El Salvador from London in 2021 after he broke up with his girlfriend and read about Bukele. Talking to The Telegraph as he sips on a can of beer with a friend, purchased with Bitcoin, he says he did not know El Salvador existed before he read about the Salvadorian president. M, 28, who did not want to give his full name, now lives in San Salvador. He first bought Bitcoin almost a decade ago when he was at university and now works for a hardware Bitcoin devices firm. Asked what he likes most about the country, he said: 'The fact that I can just easily use my Bitcoin everywhere.' Danny, a retired Belgian housebuilder who also did not want to give his last name, made his fortune in Bitcoin before moving to El Zonte 20 months ago in search of a crypto haven to retire to. You wouldn't know it by looking at him, as he sits on a stool wearing a vest and flip flops, but Danny, 59, is a Bitcoin millionaire. He invested his life savings in 2014, when one Bitcoin was worth around $US311. The value has since swelled to over $US108,000. He believes Europe is becoming a 'police state' and part of the reason he has relocated to El Zonte is to provide a base for his nine grandchildren to escape to if they wish. El Salvador, by contrast, he says is like the Wild West. 'There are not many rules, or not many rules that you really need to follow... there is almost no control.' James Bosworth, the founder of Hxagon, a firm which provides political risk analysis with a focus on Latin America, is also unconvinced the IMF deal will have much of an impact. 'Bitcoin experiment has been a failure' He puts the apparent dwindling numbers of people visiting Bitcoin Beach down to the town losing its sheen, rather than the IMF deal. 'It's probably more a function of the initial hype cycle about El Salvador's Bitcoin drawing down and global macro factors (likely recession hits all tourism),' he says. He adds: 'There are only so many people who might relocate and most of them jumped early. For anyone still considering it, the IMF agreement didn't change much.' Dr Peter Howson, an assistant professor at Northumbria University who has written books on cryptocurrency, thinks Bukele's Bitcoin experiment has been a 'failure'. Loading In 2023, eight out of 10 Salvadorians did not use cryptocurrency, according to a survey by the University Institute of Public Opinion (Iudop) at the José Simeón Cañas Central American University (UCA). Meanwhile, only a fraction of remittances sent back to El Salvador from relatives abroad, which accounts for 25 per cent of the country's GDP, were sent with Bitcoin.
