FBI’s Kash Patel Pauses Staff Responses to Elon Musk’s Email Inquiry
FBI Director Kash Patel has instructed employees to temporarily hold off on responding to an email, reportedly sent at the direction of tech billionaire Elon Musk, requesting federal workers to list their weekly accomplishments.
A memo obtained by NewsNation reveals that Patel emphasized the FBI’s own review process, stating that any necessary responses would be coordinated through official channels.
“The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is responsible for all internal review processes and will handle responses in accordance with our procedures,” Patel wrote.
Musk, who has been advocating for reduced government spending, announced on his social platform X that federal employees would soon receive an email asking them to outline their achievements for the previous week.
He added that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”
The FBI is not alone in its approach—NBC News reports that the State Department has similarly advised its employees not to reply, confirming that official responses will come from department leadership.
A notice from acting Under Secretary for Management Tibor Nagy assured employees that they are not obligated to report their activities outside the established chain of command.
The development has sparked debate about workplace accountability in federal agencies, with some praising the push for transparency while others raise concerns over procedural oversight.
