Kash Patel Tells FBI Employees to Ignore Elon Musk’s “Justify-Your-Job” Email

Washington – A power struggle is emerging within the Trump administration as FBI Director Kash Patel has directed all FBI employees to ignore Elon Musk’s "justify-your-job" email ultimatum to federal workers. Patel, who took over as the ninth director of the FBI on Saturday, issued an internal memo asking FBI personnel to "pause any responses" to Musk’s demand for government employees to justify their roles or face termination.

Musk, in his unofficial capacity as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had sent an email via the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) requiring all federal employees to list their accomplishments from the past week. However, Patel swiftly responded with an email to his staff, emphasizing that the FBI conducts its own internal reviews and does not require external oversight.

"The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures. When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses," Patel stated in his directive, according to a report by NBC.

Musk’s Ultimatum Sparks Controversy

The situation escalated after President Donald Trump reportedly urged Musk to take an aggressive stance on reducing government spending. Hours later, Musk sent a controversial directive stating:

"All federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation."

The email, titled "What did you do last week?", was sent through the Office of Personnel Management and instructed employees to submit a five-bullet summary of their weekly accomplishments by Monday at 11:59 PM. While the email did not explicitly state that non-compliance would result in termination, Musk later clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the "bar is very low" and that "any bullet points that make sense at all are acceptable!"

Federal Agencies Push Back

Musk’s directive has drawn resistance from multiple federal agencies. Reports indicate that several government departments advised employees to disregard the email until further clarification was provided. The National Treasury Employees Union also echoed similar advice, cautioning workers against immediate compliance.

A physician working at the Department of Veterans Affairs criticized the directive, telling AFP, "I have so much work to do, I am not going to neglect actual patient care for this drama."

As tensions rise within the administration, Musk’s move to overhaul federal employment practices faces significant internal resistance. Whether Trump will intervene or side with Patel remains to be seen.

What’s Next?

With federal agencies pushing back against Musk’s orders, the coming days could set the tone for a larger battle over government efficiency and employment policies under Trump’s administration. Will the White House support Patel’s stance, or will Musk double down on his efforts to streamline federal operations? The unfolding power struggle is one to watch.