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Many of the actions taken by newly appointed cabinet members is increasingly becoming reminiscent of what was learned of Enron’s management style… after its fall.
By Levi Gwaltney
Sources: U.S. Department of Defense, Economic Times (linked YouTube Video)
Photo of Kenneth Lay signature on Enron Code of Ethics: Courtesy WorthPoint; Photo of Enron Code of Ethics: Courtesy Federal Bureau of Investigation
Emails went out to all civilian employees of the Department of Defense, yesterday, requesting “five bullet points detailing their work accomplishments from the prior week.” It is a continuation of what has been called an “unprecedented” level of scrutiny at all levels of the federal bureaucracy, and a necessary means of increasing “efficiencies” in all federal departments.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s request may not be as unprecedented as it feels to the nearly 750,000 civilian federal DoD employees. Many of the actions taken by many newly appointed cabinet members is increasingly becoming reminiscent of what was learned of Enron’s management style… after its fall.
Pictured is the Enron Code of Ethics from 2000, signed by Enron’s Chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay. The foreword of the Code of Ethics states that Enron “enjoys a reputation for fairness and honesty… but no matter [what]… Enron’s reputation… depends on its people, on you and me.” (Courtesy: Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Google’s AI generated the following summary when prompted with “Enron’s management style”:
Enron’s management style was characterized by a focus on profits over ethics, and a culture that tolerated misconduct if it led to financial gain. This management style led to accounting irregularities and the company’s downfall.
Key aspects of Enron’s management style
- Charismatic leadership
Enron’s leaders, Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, promoted a compelling vision and a culture of conformity. - Unrealistic goals
Enron set unrealistic financial goals and pressured employees to meet them. - Accounting irregularities
Enron used MTM accounting to hide losses and write off unprofitable activities. - Fraudulent reporting
Enron developed off-balance sheet entities to hide debt from investors and regulators. - Excessive spending
Enron employees had large expense accounts, and many executives were paid more than competitors.
Consequences
Enron’s management style led to the financial ruin of many employees and investors. The case demonstrated that companies will be held accountable for their actions, and that white-collar crime will be pursued.
Enron-Vision and Values (1998)
DoD Article
Pentagon Directs Civilians to Prepare 5 Bullet Points on Weekly Work
By C. Todd Lopez
U.S. Department of Defense
March 2, 2025
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday signed a memorandum to all Defense Department civilian employees directing them to prepare five bullet points detailing their work accomplishments from the prior week.
On Monday, March 3, those same employees can expect an email from the Defense Department requesting that same information, he wrote. Within 48 hours they are expected to reply to that email, with their accomplishments included, and add their supervisors as recipients.
The responses, Hegseth said in a video statement released today, will be consolidated internally within the department in order to satisfy related directives from the Office of Personnel Management.
Last weekend, OPM sent a request for the same information, but the department’s Office of Personnel and Readiness told employees to stand down on the request. Now that the department has worked with OPM to get more clear guidance on what is expected, Hegseth said employees can start writing their submissions.
“The Department of Defense initially paused this directive … but now requires all DOD civilian employees to submit five bullets on their previous week’s achievements,” Hegseth said in his memorandum.
According to guidance from the secretary, it is an email from the Defense Department employees should respond to. That email will come Monday, and responses to it should not include classified or sensitive information. Additionally, Hegseth said in his memorandum, non-compliance may lead to further review.
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Civilian employees who will not have email access in the 48 hours following delivery of the email due to being on leave, shift work or other reasons, are to complete the request within 48 hours of regaining access, the secretary wrote.
Additionally, civilian employees who do not typically have email access will work with their supervisors to meet the request.
In his video statement to the civilian workforce, Hegseth said civilian employees are important to the department’s mission, and that submitting five bullet points about their work will support that.
“Our civilian patriots who dedicate themselves to defending this nation working for the Department of Defense are critical to our national security,” he said in his video statement. “As we work to restore focus on DOD’s core warfighting mission under President Trump’s leadership, we recognize that we cannot accomplish that mission without the strong and important contributions of our civilian workforce.”
DoD: “Immediate release”
Pentagon Releases Guidance for Department of Defense Civilian Employees on Responding to the Office of Personnel Management’s “What You Did Last Week” Email
Attributed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
March 3, 2025
Our Civilian patriots who dedicate themselves to defending this nation working for the Department of Defense are critical to our national security. As we work to restore focus on DoD’s core warfighting mission under President Trump’s leadership, we recognize that we cannot accomplish that mission without the strong and important contributions of our civilian workforce.
Last week, OPM sent an email to federal civilians asking them to provide approximately five bullets describing what they accomplished during their previous work week. Department of Defense employees received direction to initially pause responding to this request OPM.
Following a review of Pentagon procedures and consultation with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), I am directing each member of the Department’s civilian workforce to provide five bullets on what they accomplished in their specific jobs last week to their immediate supervisors.
All DoD civilians will receive an email outlying the next steps to be taken to comply with this initiative. These reports will be consolidated internally within the Department to comply with the OPM directive.
Secretary of Defense Memorandum
