FBI Chief Kash Patel Defies Elon Musk's 'Justify-Your-Job' Ultimatum, Tells Federal Employees To 'Pause' Responses

Washington DC: Elon Musk's email ultimatum to US federal employees, demanding they justify their work or risk losing their jobs, has faced resistance from within the Trump administration. Kash Patel, the newly appointed director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has reportedly instructed FBI employees to "pause any responses" to Tesla CEO Musk's email. The latest development has pointed at a power faceoff with Donald Trump 's administration. 

Elon Musk, who is the unofficial head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), on Saturday, sent emails requesting federal workers to submit five bullet points outlining their accomplishments from the previous week. The email, which came from the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), set a deadline of 11.59 pm Monday for responses. Although it did not explicitly mention that failure to respond would result in termination.

‘Pause Any Responses’, Directs Kash Patel

In response, Kash Patel has reportedly instructed FBI employees to "pause any responses" to Musk's email. The new FBI chief's response is seen as a challenge to Musk's authority and indicates that not all federal agencies are on board with his directives.

Patel's directive to FBI employees has also signalled a possible power struggle within the Trump administration. Patel's email stated that the FBI would conduct reviews in accordance with its own procedures and that employees should await further instruction before responding to Elon Musk's request.

Agencies And Unions Weigh In

Several federal employees have reported being advised by their agencies not to respond to Musk's email, with some recommending that employees wait for further instruction. The National Treasury Employees Union has also echoed this sentiment, urging employees to exercise caution. Reports suggested that several federal agencies have advised their employees not to respond to Musk's email, citing concerns over the legitimacy of the request. 

Elon Musk Responds

Meanwhile, in an apparent attempt to downplay the requirements of his initial request, Elon Musk later stated on X that the bar for responses is "very low" and that "an email with some bullet points that make any sense at all is acceptable!" Notably, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has led the effort to downsize the government workforce. However, the backlash from within the administration suggests that Musk's approach may not be universally accepted.

As the signs of struggle within the administration surface, development on how federal employees and agencies will respond to Musk's ultimatum is being awaited on Monday.