Trump administration ends Musk's controversial 'five things' email for federal workers
USA Today1 day
Trump Administration Ends Musk-Era 'Five Things' Emails
Above: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management headquarters on Feb. 3, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Image copyright: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Though the email strategy was meant to inspire fear in federal workers, all it did was create an unnecessary administrative burden and damage their morale. Some federal agencies considered the mandate optional even during Musk's time in the Trump administration, so it's all but a surprise that the directive has been terminated.
Narrative B
Whether you like the "five things" emails or not, it's a surprise that the directive is no longer in effect now. It's certain that some agencies had long ignored the mandate, but they had lived on in others, including OPM, in a bid to maintain accountability and transparency in employee contributions.