HHS Warns Employees about Responding to Elon Musk’s Directive

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has issued a significant warning to its employees regarding a directive from Elon Musk, which calls for federal workers to submit a list detailing their accomplishments over the past week. According to HHS, any responses to Musk’s request should be treated with extreme caution, as they may be read by “malign foreign actors.”

Directive Causes Concern Among Employees

Fox News Digital has confirmed that the anxiety surrounding this directive stems from an email sent by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) titled, “What did you do last week?” This email prompted federal employees to provide five bullet points summarizing their weekly achievements or risk facing termination.

Mandatory Requirement Rescinded

Following discussions with OPM, HHS communicated to its staff that this mandatory requirement has been rescinded. “HHS has no expectation that employees should respond to OPM, and choosing not to respond will not affect your employment with the agency,” the department clarified in its communication with staff.

Guidelines Provided for Those Who Choose to Respond

Despite the rescindment of the mandatory requirement, HHS provided a set of guidelines for those who may choose to respond to Musk’s request. Employees were instructed to adhere to a strict deadline—submissions should be made by Monday at 11:59 p.m. The agency emphasized the importance of keeping their responses generic, thereby safeguarding sensitive data and personal information.

Limitations on Response Content

HHS also urged employees not to provide detailed information regarding their work, particularly any descriptions involving drugs, devices, and biologics. For those engaged in scientific research, the agency advised against including any specifics that could reveal the nature of their projects. “Assume that your writing will be read by malign foreign actors and tailor your response accordingly,” HHS cautioned employees.

Musk’s Directive Stirs Controversy

Elon Musk, acting as a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, stated that employees would receive an email allowing them to detail their productivity from the prior week. Musk went as far as to assert that failing to respond would be interpreted as a resignation from their position.

OPM’s Non-Uniform Approach

As this controversy unfolds, it appears that OPM has communicated a non-uniform approach to federal agencies regarding this matter. Human resources officials from various federal bodies have been informed that a tailored response plan will be developed, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all solution does not apply to every department.

DOD and Other Agencies Resist the Directive

In light of this directive, some federal agencies, including the Department of Defense (DoD) have advised their personnel to ignore Musk’s productivity request entirely. A letter from Darin S. Selnick, performing the duties of the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, reiterated that “the DoD is responsible for reviewing the performance of its personnel,” and that any necessary evaluations would follow established procedures, not those posited by OPM.

Similar messages were conveyed by other agencies like the FBI and the State Department. Kash Patel, newly confirmed as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, instructed FBI personnel to hold off on responding to the OPM email, citing that all review processes within the FBI would adhere to their standard procedures. Meanwhile, the State Department communicated that it would respond on behalf of employees.

Musk’s Firm Stance

Musk had previously indicated that employees would have another opportunity to respond, stating, “Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.” This firm ultimatum reinforces the ongoing tension and complexity of managing productivity assessments within federal agencies.

Conclusion

The directive initiated by Elon Musk has accurately reflected the ongoing debates concerning productivity measurement and accountability within federal workplaces. While HHS has taken steps to clarify the situation for its employees, organizations like the DoD and FBI emphasize the importance of adhering to their inherent review processes. As this situation continues to unfold, the implications for federal workers and their respective agencies remain to be seen.

Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich contributed to this report.