Federal workers across various U.S. agencies received an unexpected email, instructing them to submit detailed reports of their prior week’s work by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday. This directive originated from a human resources address within the Office of Personnel Management. Notably, the email did not include Elon Musk‘s earlier public threat of considering non-compliance as a resignation, which he had posted on his X social media platform.
In response to this surprising communication, multiple U.S. agencies, including the FBI, advised employees not to rush into action. The FBI's Director, Kash Patel, issued an email to staff advising them to hold off on responding until further guidance is provided.
"The FBI, through the office of the director, is in charge of all our review processes."
Said by: FBI Director Kash Patel
Similar instructions were disseminated across other federal departments and agencies. Employees at the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Education, and Commerce received notifications not to respond immediately. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Institutes of Health, and Internal Revenue Service were also advised to await further instruction before complying with the email request.
Elon Musk, who leads the "Department of Government Efficiency," has been instrumental in executing significant workforce reductions since the commencement of President Trump's administration. His department has enacted layoffs for over 20,000 government employees and proposed buyouts for another 75,000. These cuts have impacted numerous government sectors, including the Defense Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Musk’s stringent measures come amidst a growing concern over the U.S. government's $36 trillion debt. Despite bipartisan consensus on the need for governmental reform, Musk's methods have faced extensive criticism, even from voters in traditionally Republican strongholds.
A senior executive from the National Centers for Environmental Information commented on the situation:
"To be clear – this is irregular, unexpected, and warrants further validation."
Said by: A senior executive at the National Centers for Environmental Information
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