NIH breaks from Musk’s federal workforce rules, restoring travel and purchase freedoms

NIH breaks from Musk’s federal workforce rules

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has rolled back controversial directives imposed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), restoring employees’ ability to travel and use purchasing cards without strict oversight, according to internal messages obtained by POLITICO.

In a series of communications to staff on Thursday, NIH leadership said the agency would no longer follow DOGE’s productivity monitoring and spending restrictions. This marks one of the most visible breaks yet from the Musk-led department, which has implemented sweeping cost-cutting policies across the federal government during his special appointment under President Trump.

“NIH manages its own performance review processes,” one message stated, telling employees to disregard future instructions on productivity from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

A clear pivot under new leadership

The reversal comes shortly after Jay Bhattacharya was confirmed as NIH director, suggesting he may be seeking to reassert agency independence from Musk’s authority. NIH said purchasing cards would “be restored to full capacity and use,” and that staff could again travel for business without prior approval from HHS or the director’s office.

DOGE had previously set a $1 limit on agency purchasing cards and required a new pre-approval process for expenses as part of Musk’s crackdown on spending.

Federal resistance mounts against DOGE mandates

NIH is not the only agency pulling back from DOGE’s directives. Earlier this week, the Social Security Administration also stepped back from DOGE’s proposal to cut phone services for benefits recipients, citing concerns about fraud and accessibility. Other departments, including the FBI and Department of Justice, have reportedly instructed employees to ignore certain DOGE communications due to concerns about the security of information shared through Musk’s unregulated systems.

Musk, whose appointment expires on May 30 unless renewed by Trump, has pushed controversial reforms including weekly email reports from federal workers detailing their productivity in five bullet points. The Musk-Trump team has threatened termination for noncompliance, drawing criticism from labour unions and government watchdogs.

Musk’s approval and DOGE’s future uncertain

Public backlash to Musk’s role in government has grown in recent weeks. His approval ratings have declined, and Republican lawmakers have faced questions at town halls over DOGE’s efforts to trim the federal workforce and curtail spending. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers downplayed the influence of DOGE, noting: “The Department of Government Efficiency reports to agency heads. Agency heads do not report to the Department of Government Efficiency.”

With Musk’s tenure potentially ending next month, it remains unclear how many agencies will continue to follow DOGE’s lead or reclaim autonomy like the NIH. For now, the NIH’s move signals a decisive shift — and a potential turning point in the ongoing battle over how the federal government should function under Trump’s second term.