Trump appointees challenge Elon Musk over OPM email as Trump backs billionaire

President Donald Trump has expressed full support for Elon Musk’s directive, requiring federal employees to submit a report on their recent accomplishments or face possible termination. Despite this push, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) clarified that compliance with Musk’s email was voluntary, leading to confusion and backlash across government agencies.

The mandate, which required employees to submit five bullet points detailing their work by Monday at 11:59 p.m. EST, has sparked legal challenges, protests, and internal resistance. As tensions rise, some agencies have instructed employees not to comply, while others have requested more clarity on the policy’s legality.

ALSO SEE: Trump-Musk kissing deepfake shown at HUD office raises disinformation concerns

Elon Musk’s federal workforce overhaul sparks lawsuits and controversy

Elon Musk, who is spearheading Trump’s initiative to downsize the federal government, has claimed that his Department of Government Efficiency uncovered “hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud”, alleging that government salaries are being paid to nonexistent employees. However, Musk has not provided evidence to support these claims.

The directive has already resulted in legal action, with unions, businesses, and advocacy groups filing a lawsuit in federal court in California. The lawsuit, led by the State Democracy Defenders Fund, argues that Musk’s threats of mass firings amount to one of the largest employment fraud cases in U.S. history. Meanwhile, protests have erupted in Washington, with federal employees and lawmakers questioning the legality of Musk’s actions.

OPM and key agencies push back against Musk’s directive

Despite Musk’s claims that failure to respond would be taken as a resignation. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) officials reassured agency leaders that participation was not mandatory. However, conflicting directives have led to varying responses across government departments:

• The Justice Department instructed employees not to comply, citing the confidential nature of their work.
• The State Department, Homeland Security, and the Pentagon also advised staff against responding, raising security concerns.
• The Education Department, however, told employees the email was legitimate and required, with frontline supervisors monitoring responses.

ALSO SEE: Harvey Weinstein sues brother Robert & former associates over $45M loan dispute

Trump defends Musk as GOP and Democrats question legality

Amid growing pushback, Trump has dismissed concerns, insisting Musk’s approach is simply holding federal employees accountable. Speaking from the Oval Office alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump defended Musk’s request, stating:

"He’s just asking, ‘Are you actually working?’ If you don’t answer, you’re either semi-fired or fired, because a lot of these people don’t even exist."

Meanwhile, lawmakers from both political parties have raised concerns that Musk’s mandate may be illegal, with some arguing that federal agencies already have internal evaluation processes.

Adding to the controversy, some of Trump’s own appointees have broken ranks, advising federal employees not to respond to Musk’s request. FBI Director Kash Patel was among those who urged caution, citing privacy and security risks.