“Please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager.”

However, Patel — who was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday — countered the request. According to ABC News, Patel's message to FBI personnel stated: "The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is responsible for all our review processes, which will be conducted in accordance with FBI procedures. Please hold off on any responses for now. We will coordinate further information if required."

This directive comes amidst reports that Patel may also be appointed as acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Separately, John Durham, the top federal prosecutor in New York's eastern district, has also advised his staff to delay their responses.

Rear Adm. Chad Cary, director of NOAA also directed employees to stand down from responding and said the directive "came as a surprise to all departments, and NOAA leadership is seeking guidance," according to ABC News.

Elon Musk, tasked with cutting government costs during Trump's second term, announced the request on his social media platform X. "Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump's instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week," he stated. "Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation."

This unusual directive has caused chaos across various agencies, including the National Weather Service and State Department. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has strongly criticized the move, calling it "cruel and disrespectful" to federal workers, particularly veterans in civil service.