OPM says Musk’s ultimatum is voluntary after a weekend of confusion

After a weekend of confusion, the Trump administration on Monday afternoon informed federal businesses they do not need to direct employees to adjust to Elon Musk’s request for details about their actions at work, and that doing so is voluntary, in keeping with two sources conversant in the matter.

The Workplace of Personnel Administration — successfully the human assets company for the federal authorities — up to date company human assets officers on a Monday name over Elon Musk’s name for the Trump administration to fireside federal employees who didn’t reply to an e mail asking them to submit an e mail itemizing their accomplishments from the earlier week.

Including to the confusion are Trump’s personal feedback Monday, when he informed journalists within the Oval Workplace there was a “lot of genius” behind Musk’s proposal, and that employees could be “form of semi-fired” if they do not reply.

OPM didn’t reply to a request for touch upon the directions given to federal businesses.

Within the newest effort by the Division of Authorities Effectivity to research effectivity and cut back the scale of the federal government, workers had been requested in an e mail from the Workplace of Personnel Administration on Saturday to listing 5 accomplishments over the earlier week and reply by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday.

Musk threatened on social media that workers would face termination if they don’t comply. The unique e mail despatched to workers didn’t embody such an ultimatum, leaving some workers unaware of the risk.

Nevertheless, some federal businesses informed workers not to reply to the OPM e mail, some suggested that workers ought to reply and others mentioned that replying is “voluntary,” creating uncertainty among the many rank and file.

Musk’s ultimatum raised questions on how a lot authority he holds within the authorities. Whereas the White Home argued in a courtroom submitting that Musk has no true energy, Musk doubled down on his ultimatum Monday morning, warning that “Those that don’t take this e mail severely will quickly be furthering their profession elsewhere.”

Trump endorsed the e-mail whereas taking questions Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron.

“I assumed it was nice as a result of we’ve got folks that do not present as much as work, and no person even is aware of in the event that they work for the federal government,” Trump mentioned. “So, by asking the query, ‘Inform us what you probably did this week,’ what he is doing is saying, ‘Are you really working?'”

“After which in case you do not reply such as you’re form of semi-fired otherwise you’re fired as a result of lots of people will not be answering as a result of they do not even exist,” Trump mentioned.

Requested later Monday in regards to the change in OPM coverage, a White Home official mentioned, “DOGE is shifting quick, on the path of POTUS, and that’s precisely the purpose.”

“It’s all about effectivity, even internally,” the official added.

In an announcement, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned, “Everyone seems to be working collectively as one unified crew on the path of President Trump. Any notion on the contrary is totally false.”

Blended messages

Federal workers on Saturday started receiving the OPM e mail with the topic line “What did you do final week” that demanded they listing “5 bullets of what you achieved final week and CC your supervisor,” in keeping with a number of sources and an e mail reviewed by ABC Information.

The topic line got here from Musk’s playbook: “What did you get accomplished this week?” is identical message he despatched to the CEO of Twitter (now X) Parag Agrawal earlier than Musk purchased the corporate and fired the CEO.

A spokesperson from the Workplace of Personnel Administration mentioned Saturday that “businesses will decide any subsequent steps.”

But administration at a number of businesses informed their workers that they had been ready on additional steering and, in some instances, informed them to carry off on replying, in keeping with a number of sources.

Workers on the Justice Division had been informed that they didn’t want to reply to the OPM request, in keeping with an e mail obtained by ABC Information. The Protection Division informed workers who obtained the e-mail to “please pause any response.” The Pentagon official filling in because the Division’s prime personnel officer mentioned that DOD would evaluate any efficiency of personnel in keeping with its personal procedures, however added that “when and if required” it will coordinate responses to OPM’s e mail.

Newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel additionally informed workers to “please pause any responses” to the e-mail.

Workers at businesses together with the Federal Emergency Administration Company, the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, and the US Division of Power had been informed by senior workers that they had been ready on additional steering and, in some instances, informed to attend for additional discover earlier than responding.

NASA appearing Administrator Janet Petro knowledgeable workers on Monday earlier than OPM’s steering went out that responding to the e-mail was non-compulsory and that not responding would have “no impression to your employment,” in keeping with an e mail obtained by ABC Information.

“Workers might have already responded or should select to reply. You aren’t required to reply, and there’s no impression to your employment with the company in case you select to not reply,” Petro wrote within the e mail.

Different businesses directed workers to answer. Chatting with Fox Information on Monday morning, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defined why his workers ought to reply to Musk’s e mail.

“If you cannot provide you with 5 issues that you simply did, perhaps you should not be employed right here,” Duffy mentioned, calling it an “straightforward activity” that “occurs within the personal sector on a regular basis.”

Management on the Treasury Division despatched an agency-wide e mail Monday morning instructing all workers — together with these on the IRS — to adjust to OPM’s e mail by the deadline, in keeping with an e mail obtained by ABC Information.

Nevertheless, the e-mail nonetheless left some workers confused, notably as a result of it doesn’t make clear whether or not failure to reply by the deadline may lead to termination.

Federal employees who do not comply with Musk on social media could possibly be unaware there’s an ultimatum on the desk. Whereas the administration did ask federal workers to listing their accomplishments, the e-mail didn’t state that those that failed to reply by the deadline could be fired.

Workers throughout businesses informed ABC Information they hadn’t seen Musk’s threats till they had been requested for his or her response to them.

One IRS worker informed ABC Information that once they requested their direct managers whether or not not responding would lead to them being fired, they had been informed, “We’re solely to stick to official emails and ignore any directives not communicated by means of official channels.”

One other worker in administration on the IRS mentioned workers are “freaking out.”

Managers on the Division of Veterans Affairs informed workers to reply to the e-mail. One supervisor on the company informed ABC Information that employees are “scared.”

“It’s not an exaggeration,” they mentioned. “Everyone is afraid they’ll lose their jobs every day. There’s this worry that you simply’re going to open your e mail and you may be terminated.”

How a lot authority does Musk have?

It’s not clear if Musk has the authority to terminate workers on this method. Nevertheless, he continues to behave as if he does, threatening workers on Monday morning with administrative go away if they don’t return to work this week.

White Home legal professionals attested in federal courtroom that Musk “has no precise or formal authority to make authorities selections.”

Trump aides have additionally mentioned publicly that Musk is working in an advisory capability as a particular authorities worker.

Whereas Trump has mentioned that Musk can not do something with out his approval, the president has publicly heralded Musk because the chief of DOGE and lauded him for the job he is doing in that capability. On Saturday, shortly earlier than the OPM e mail went out, Trump posted on his Fact Social platform, “ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE.”

-ABC Information’ Devin Dwyer, Peter Charalambous, Selina Wang, Emily Chang and Michelle Stoddart contributed to this report.