Sun Feb 23 12:07:19 UTC 2025: ## FBI Director Halts Response to Musk’s “Justify Your Job” Ultimatum

**Washington D.C.** – A power struggle within the Trump administration is brewing after newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel ordered a halt to all responses to an email from Elon Musk demanding US federal employees justify their jobs. Musk, acting in a self-proclaimed role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, sent an email via the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Saturday demanding a list of accomplishments from federal workers. Failure to respond, the email initially stated, would be considered a resignation.

The email, titled “What did you do last week?”, requested approximately five bullet points detailing the previous week’s work. The deadline was set for Monday at 11:59 pm.

However, Patel, who assumed his post on Saturday, swiftly countered Musk’s directive. In an email to FBI staff, Patel instructed them to pause any response, stating that the FBI would handle all reviews according to its own procedures. This action represents a direct challenge to Musk’s authority and suggests early friction within the Trump administration regarding Musk’s sweeping government efficiency initiative.

The move followed similar advice from other federal agencies, which also instructed their employees not to respond to Musk’s email. The National Treasury Employees Union echoed this sentiment. One physician from the Department of Veterans Affairs, who received the email, expressed frustration, stating they had more pressing responsibilities than responding to Musk’s request.

Musk later attempted to mitigate the controversy, claiming the requirements were minimal, tweeting that “an email with some bullet points that make any sense at all is acceptable!” Despite this, Patel’s decisive action underscores the considerable internal resistance to Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting measures. The incident highlights a potential clash between Musk’s influence within the administration and the established bureaucratic processes of individual agencies.

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