Trump Appointees Push Back Against Musk’s Federal Workforce Directive//

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//Trump Appointees Push Back Against Musk’s Federal Workforce Directive//

Elon Musk at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.

A growing divide between President Donald Trump’s administration and Elon Musk emerged on Sunday as multiple agency heads pushed back against Musk’s demand that federal employees provide weekly reports of their accomplishments or risk termination.

By the end of the day, leaders from the Pentagon, Federal Bureau of Investigation, State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Energy had all advised their employees not to respond to an email sent from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) titled “What did you do last week?” This directive—purportedly meant to increase transparency and efficiency—quickly became a source of confusion and resistance within the federal government.

Musk’s Directive Sparks Backlash

Some agencies, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, initially directed employees to comply with the request. However, after internal discussions and growing concern over the implications, they reversed their guidance, advising employees to hold off on responding.

The White House remained silent on the matter, offering no clarification on whether Trump fully endorsed Musk’s approach or if agency leaders were acting independently in their pushback.

The uncertainty over Musk’s role and the extent of his authority underscored the tensions brewing within the administration. While Musk was granted sweeping influence over government reform efforts, his direct interference in the day-to-day operations of federal agencies is now facing resistance from officials who were personally appointed by Trump himself.

A Weekend of Confusion

Musk took to his social media platform, X, to express frustration, stating, “EXTREMELY troubling that some parts of government think this is TOO MUCH!! What is wrong with them??”

Meanwhile, agency heads scrambled to interpret Trump and Musk’s intentions. Newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel was among the first to instruct employees to ignore the email, stating that internal review processes would be conducted per FBI protocols. He assured employees that if any additional information was required, it would be communicated through official channels.

The Department of Defense followed suit. Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Darin Selnick issued a similar directive, stating that the department would handle performance reviews according to established procedures. A senior defense official called the email “the silliest thing I’ve seen in 40 years” and an inappropriate overreach of authority.

Other agencies, including Homeland Security and the State Department, quickly followed, instructing employees not to respond. Homeland Security’s Deputy Under Secretary for Management, R.D. Alles, assured personnel that the department would handle responses collectively, stating that no individual reporting was required.

Federal Employees on Edge

For federal workers, the email added to a growing sense of unease over Musk’s role in reshaping government operations. The OPM email, which many initially dismissed as a hoax, quickly became a flashpoint for larger concerns about transparency, oversight, and job security.

Career employees across multiple departments, from air traffic controllers to diplomats, found themselves in a weekend scramble, attempting to decipher whether the directive was legitimate, enforceable, or even legal.

One senior official noted that the move disrupted operations within key agencies, saying, “This is bureaucracy at its worst—nobody knows who’s in charge, what the chain of command is, or whether this was a joke or a real policy.”

Trump and Musk Double Down

Despite the widespread opposition among agency leaders, neither Musk nor Trump showed signs of backing down. Trump took to social media to defend Musk’s plan, posting a meme from SpongeBob SquarePants mocking federal employees and their alleged inefficiency.

The billionaire entrepreneur, known for his brash management style at Tesla and SpaceX, appeared intent on enforcing the new accountability measures, regardless of the pushback. However, without clear legal authority, it remains uncertain how he plans to enforce compliance.

Political Fallout and Republican Resistance

The controversy has even begun to fracture Republican support for Trump’s government overhaul efforts. Senator John Curtis of Utah voiced concern over Musk’s approach, warning that it lacked empathy and disregarded the livelihoods of federal employees.

“If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s, ‘Please put a dose of compassion in this. These are real people. These are real lives,’” Curtis said during a Sunday interview. “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.”

As the administration grapples with internal divisions, it remains to be seen whether Musk’s role in government reform will continue to expand—or if this latest clash signals the beginning of his limitations within the federal system.