A disagreement has emerged between some of former President Donald Trump’s appointed agency heads and billionaire Elon Musk, who has been assigned to reform the federal government. The controversy began after Musk sent an email to all federal employees, demanding they report their weekly accomplishments or risk termination.
By Sunday evening, multiple agencies, including the Pentagon, FBI, State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Energy, instructed their employees to ignore the email sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The email, with the subject line “What did you do last week?”, was met with resistance as agency heads advised staff not to respond immediately.
Confusion Among Agencies and Reversal of Guidance
The directive caused immediate uncertainty among federal employees, with some agencies initially instructing workers to comply, only to later reverse their stance. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) first told employees to submit five weekly accomplishments but later advised them to pause their responses.
Other agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), also delayed guidance, adding to the confusion. Some agency heads opted to wait until Monday to clarify their stance before employees took any action.
Musk’s Reaction and Push for Compliance
Despite the growing pushback, Musk stood firm on his demand. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), he expressed frustration, stating, “EXTREMELY troubling that some parts of government think this is TOO MUCH!! What is wrong with them??”
His comments suggested that he was unwilling to back down, even as agencies sought clarity on whether the directive had Trump’s full backing. Meanwhile, Trump remained silent on the matter when asked for an official response from the White House.
FBI, Pentagon, and Other Agencies Defy Musk’s Order
Many top officials within federal agencies moved quickly to counter the OPM email. Newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel was among the first to issue a response, instructing FBI employees to refrain from complying with Musk’s request. He stated that all performance reviews would be handled internally following FBI procedures.
Similarly, the Department of Defense (DoD) released a statement through acting Undersecretary Darin Selnick, making it clear that the department would manage employee evaluations through its existing internal systems. “For now, please pause any response to the OPM email,” Selnick wrote.
Senior officials within the Defense Department were reportedly frustrated with the directive, with one official calling it “the silliest thing I’ve seen in 40 years” and arguing that it disrupted the federal chain of command.
Homeland Security and State Department Stand Firm
Homeland Security officials also rejected Musk’s request, with the department’s Deputy Undersecretary for Management, R.D. Alles, telling employees that DHS leadership would handle responses collectively. Similarly, the State Department reassured its workforce that employees were not required to respond outside their department’s existing protocols.
Political Fallout and Republican Dissent
The controversy raised concerns among both government officials and Republican lawmakers. Some within the party openly criticized Musk’s approach, warning that demanding immediate compliance without consideration for established protocols could cause unnecessary disruptions.
Senator John Curtis of Utah was among those who spoke out against Musk’s actions. In an interview on CBS’ Face the Nation, Curtis urged Musk to be more compassionate, stating, “These are real people. These are real lives. It’s a false narrative to say we have to cut, and you have to be cruel to do it, as well. We can do both.”
The Bigger Picture: Musk’s Expanding Influence in Government
This latest controversy highlights growing concerns over Musk’s expanding role in federal government operations. With Trump’s backing, Musk’s team has gained access to sensitive agency databases and is pushing for broad changes within the federal workforce. However, this episode has exposed cracks in the alignment between Trump’s appointees and Musk’s aggressive reform strategies.
For now, federal employees remain caught in the middle of this power struggle, unsure whether to follow Musk’s directive or listen to their department leaders who are urging caution. The coming days will likely determine whether Trump fully supports Musk’s initiative or if agency heads will be allowed to maintain control over their departments without external interference.
The Information is Collected from CNN and AOL.
