The memo asks agency heads to develop plans for reductions in force and reorganization that include plans to promote efficiency through tech modernization.
A rift appeared to open Sunday between some of President Donald Trump’s agency heads and Elon Musk, the billionaire tasked with reforming the federal government, over Musk’s demand that all federal employees state their weekly accomplishments or risk termination.
The message appears to contradict recent guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which told agency leaders Monday afternoon that employee response to the initial email was not mandatory and that failure to do so would not be considered a resignation.
"No reporting action from you is needed at this time. For now, please pause any responses outside of your DHS chain of command," it concluded.
The memo, published just a few hours before the midnight deadline, says responses should be sent to both OPM and agency leadership.
DHS management will respond on behalf of the ... A Saturday email to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the email from OPM was “legitimate” and told employees to respond ...
OPM employees working remotely can decline the management-directed reassignment, but with the understanding their choice will result in termination proceedings.
Concretely, the heads of the Pentagon, FBI, State Department, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Energy directed staff not to reply to the email, CNN reported. Others have directed employees to reply to the email with the subject line: "What did you do last week?"
Multiple federal agencies appeared to be caught off guard by the Elon Musk-directed email from the Office of Personnel Management.