Federal employees have been instructed not to respond to an email sent by Elon Musk that demands weekly reports of their accomplishments. The message, dispatched via the Office of Personnel Management on Saturday, comes as part of Musk’s recent initiatives aimed at cutting government spending and reducing the federal workforce—a directive that has already seen significant pushback.
Multiple agencies have stepped in to clarify the situation. The FBI, FEMA, IRS, NOAA, CDC, and the Department of Energy have all advised their staff to disregard the email until further guidance is issued. FBI Director Kash Patel, in an email quoted by The Mirror US, stated, “FBI personnel may have received an email from OPM requesting information. The FBI… will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures. For now, please pause any responses.”
Similarly, Ambassador Tibor P. Nagy reassured State Department employees, emphasizing that “No employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their department chain of command.” NOAA’s Rear Admiral Chad Cary noted that the email “came as a surprise,” and the agency is currently seeking clarification on its details. Both the IRS and the CDC have also indicated that they are awaiting further instructions on how to proceed.
As it stands, uncertainty continues to prevail across many federal agencies, with some employees being advised to hold off on any responses until additional guidance is provided, which is expected to come early next week.
