By Charles Switzer
3:08am PDT, Apr 12, 2025
NIH Pushes Back Against DOGE Directives
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on Thursday, April 10, that it is reversing recent directives from
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency
(DOGE), including controversial mandates to monitor employee productivity and impose strict limitations on purchases and travel.
Internal messages obtained by
Politico indicate this could signal a break from Musk's influence under the agency's newly confirmed director,
Jay Bhattacharya.
"Please disregard any future reminders or instructions on this directive from OPM or the Department of Health and Human Services," one message read, referring to the Office of Personnel Management. "NIH manages its own performance review processes and will notify employees directly if any information related to work duties or performance is needed."
Here are four things to know about the NIH's DOGE pushback.
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Credit Card Restrictions and Travel Limits Lifted
According to another message sent by NIH leadership, purchasing cards "will be restored to full capacity and use" by the end of the day.
Staff will also be allowed to resume work-related travel without needing special authorization from the Department of Health and Human Services or the NIH director's office.
This announcement follows DOGE's March directive that capped agency purchasing cards at $1 and instituted a detailed review process for all new transactions, part of a broader effort to curb federal spending.
Broader Federal Resistance to DOGE Policies
NIH isn't alone in its quiet rebellion against DOGE's cost-cutting campaign.
Earlier in the week, the
Social Security Administration scaled back a DOGE-led effort to eliminate phone-based services for Social Security, Medicare and disability recipients — a move DOGE claimed would reduce fraud. In recent weeks, agencies such as the FBI and Department of Justice have also advised staff to avoid responding to DOGE requests due to fears of transmitting classified information through unsecure communication channels.
Elon Musk previously required federal employees to submit weekly reports summarizing their tasks in five bullet points. Those who failed to comply were threatened with termination.
Political Blowback and Declining Public Support
DOGE's initiatives, while designed to cut spending, have stirred political controversy. Public dissatisfaction is growing: Recent polling shows a drop in Elon Musk's approval ratings.
Moreover, town halls across the country have seen constituents confronting Republican lawmakers over workforce reductions attributed to DOGE.
Musk, who serves as a special government employee, is currently scheduled to exit his role on May 30 unless President Donald Trump opts to extend his appointment.
Agencies Reassert Authority Over DOGE
The White House clarified that DOGE operates in an advisory capacity to federal agencies — not as a controlling entity.
"The Department of Government Efficiency reports to agency heads," said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers. "Agency heads do not report to the Department of Government Efficiency."
