Another Indicator That Musk's Influence Is Diminishing
The National Institutes of Health has become the most recent agency to distance itself from Trump's billionaire adviser.
TroibNews 
The National Institutes of Health announced on Thursday that it is reversing directives from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency concerning employee productivity monitoring and restrictions on purchases and travel using company cards, as revealed in messages obtained by PMG.
This move may indicate that the newly confirmed NIH director, Jay Bhattacharya, is prepared to diverge from Musk and the DOGE agenda.
“Please disregard any future reminders or instructions on this directive from OPM or the Department of Health and Human Services,” one message stated, referring to the White House’s personnel office. “NIH manages its own performance review processes and will notify employees directly if any information related to work duties or performance is needed.”
According to another message from NIH management, purchasing cards will “be restored to full capacity and use” later today. Employees will once again be able to travel for business without needing permission from HHS or the NIH director's office.
In March, DOGE had enforced a $1 spending limit on purchasing cards and introduced a review and approval process for purchases across agencies aimed at curbing spending.
The NIH's recent instructions mark another departure from DOGE's mandates. Earlier this week, the Social Security Administration scaled back on a DOGE initiative intended to eliminate telephone services and direct retirees, Medicare, or disability benefits recipients to in-person or online services, a move that DOGE claimed would help prevent fraud.
In the last month, multiple agencies, including the FBI and Department of Justice, have advised their employees not to comply with DOGE’s requests due to worries about potentially revealing classified information through insecure channels.
In February, Musk requested that federal employees send weekly emails summarizing their work in five bullet points. Both Musk and former President Donald Trump have warned employees of termination if they do not comply.
However, Musk’s cost-cutting campaign has sparked political controversy within the Trump administration. Recent polls indicate a decline in Musk’s approval ratings, and large crowds in town halls across the nation have confronted Republican lawmakers regarding DOGE-led reductions to the federal workforce.
Musk's special appointment to the administration is scheduled to end on May 30, unless Trump decides to extend it.
“The Department of Government Efficiency reports to agency heads,” stated Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson. “Agency heads do not report to the Department of Government Efficiency."
Anna Muller for TROIB News
This move may indicate that the newly confirmed NIH director, Jay Bhattacharya, is prepared to diverge from Musk and the DOGE agenda.
“Please disregard any future reminders or instructions on this directive from OPM or the Department of Health and Human Services,” one message stated, referring to the White House’s personnel office. “NIH manages its own performance review processes and will notify employees directly if any information related to work duties or performance is needed.”
According to another message from NIH management, purchasing cards will “be restored to full capacity and use” later today. Employees will once again be able to travel for business without needing permission from HHS or the NIH director's office.
In March, DOGE had enforced a $1 spending limit on purchasing cards and introduced a review and approval process for purchases across agencies aimed at curbing spending.
The NIH's recent instructions mark another departure from DOGE's mandates. Earlier this week, the Social Security Administration scaled back on a DOGE initiative intended to eliminate telephone services and direct retirees, Medicare, or disability benefits recipients to in-person or online services, a move that DOGE claimed would help prevent fraud.
In the last month, multiple agencies, including the FBI and Department of Justice, have advised their employees not to comply with DOGE’s requests due to worries about potentially revealing classified information through insecure channels.
In February, Musk requested that federal employees send weekly emails summarizing their work in five bullet points. Both Musk and former President Donald Trump have warned employees of termination if they do not comply.
However, Musk’s cost-cutting campaign has sparked political controversy within the Trump administration. Recent polls indicate a decline in Musk’s approval ratings, and large crowds in town halls across the nation have confronted Republican lawmakers regarding DOGE-led reductions to the federal workforce.
Musk's special appointment to the administration is scheduled to end on May 30, unless Trump decides to extend it.
“The Department of Government Efficiency reports to agency heads,” stated Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson. “Agency heads do not report to the Department of Government Efficiency."
Anna Muller for TROIB News
Find more stories on Business, Economy and Finance in TROIB business
