In a surprising turn of events over the weekend, multiple senior officials within the Trump administration advised federal employees to disregard a directive from Elon Musk, who is serving as an advisor to the administration. Musk had instructed government workers to justify their positions by reporting their weekly accomplishments, warning that failure to comply would be interpreted as a resignation.
The controversy began when the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent an email on Saturday requesting that federal employees submit a list of five bullet points detailing their achievements from the previous week. This email quickly drew criticism and confusion within various government departments. By Sunday afternoon, key agencies, including the Defense Department, Homeland Security, State Department, FBI, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, issued guidance to their employees to pause any responses to the OPM request.
The OPM’s email came shortly after President Donald Trump publicly praised Musk on Truth Social, encouraging him to "GET MORE AGGRESSIVE" in his efforts to streamline government operations. Musk’s push for accountability among federal workers aligns with the administration’s broader initiative aimed at significant government cuts, particularly through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project.
Concerns were raised by experts regarding the potential risks to national security posed by federal employees responding to the OPM email, as such disclosures could make sensitive information vulnerable to foreign intelligence. In response to the confusion, the Department of Defense sent out a communication instructing personnel to refrain from replying to the OPM email, asserting that performance reviews would be conducted according to the department’s established procedures.
FBI officials echoed this sentiment, advising their employees to hold off on any responses, citing the sensitive and classified nature of their work. Similarly, a senior official from the State Department clarified that employees were not obligated to report their activities outside of their departmental chain of command.
Musk’s directive and the subsequent pushback from senior officials highlight a significant disconnect within the administration. Musk responded to criticism of the OPM email by suggesting that those who found it excessive should reconsider their positions. He also showcased a response generated by his AI tool, Grok, which he claimed illustrated the minimal expectations set by the DOGE project.
As this situation unfolds, it raises questions about the balance between accountability and security within federal agencies, as well as the implications of Musk’s influence in government operations.