The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gave state employees until the end of Monday to respond to the request. However, even some Trump allies have told staff to ignore the instruction.
Uncertainty looms as Elon Musk’s deadline for federal workers to explain their recent accomplishments approaches, with US politicians from both parties criticising him over the move.
On Saturday evening, the South African-born billionaire and owner of X announced on social media that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would email US state employees asking them for a list of what they had done the previous week.
As part of his mission to slash federal bureaucracy, Musk said staff would lose their jobs if they failed to respond to the email by the end of Monday.
However, some of US President Donald Trump’s loyalists have advised their staff at key US government agencies not to carry out DOGE’s demands.
Newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel, a major Trump ally, was one of these people.
“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,” he instructed staff in an email.
“When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses.”
Musk called ‘cruel’
Conflicting advice was given by senior figures in other departments.
On Sunday morning, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr told his roughly 80,000 staff to comply with Musk’s request. This came after Sean Keveney, the department’s acting general counsel, had told them to ignore the instruction.
Later, the same employees were told to “pause activities” relating to the request until midday on Monday.
Meanwhile, politicians and trade unions have branded Musk “cruel” for making such demands.
Speaking about the ultimatum, John Curtis, a Republican senator from Utah, told CBS: “If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it’s like, please put a dose of compassion in this.”
“These are real people. These are real lives,” he added. “It’s a false narrative to say we have to cut and you have to be cruel to do it as well.”
Some went further with their criticism, including Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).
Musk’s order showed “utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide to the American people”, he said.
“AFGE will challenge any unlawful terminations of our members and federal employees across the country,” he confirmed.
Over the weekend, Trump called on Musk, his unelected cost-cutting chief, to be even more aggressive in his campaign to slash government spending.
The Trump administration has already dismissed thousands of state employees and effectively dismantled USAID, the country’s international development agency.
