Confusion Mounts as Federal Employees Face OPM Deadline Amid Elon Musk’s Ultimatum

The deadline set by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for federal employees to submit reports on their weekly accomplishments is fast approaching. However, confusion remains widespread as different agencies provide conflicting guidance on whether employees must comply.

Over the weekend, federal workers received an email instructing them to respond to OPM’s request by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, outlining their accomplishments from the past week in approximately five bullet points. The directive has since sparked controversy, with some agency leaders informing employees that they are not required to respond, while others have advised staff to comply. This discrepancy has created uncertainty among federal workers and set the stage for a potential rift between President Trump’s administration and agency leadership.

Elon Musk, who publicly backed the OPM request, took to social media on Saturday to issue a stark warning: failure to respond to the email would be “taken as a resignation.” He defended the request, arguing that tracking employees’ accomplishments would help uncover “outright fraud.” Musk also praised those who submitted “good responses,” suggesting that compliance with the directive was a sign of commitment and accountability.

The controversy has ignited strong reactions across federal agencies, with some questioning the legitimacy of the demand and its potential impact on employee morale. As the deadline looms, many federal workers remain uncertain about whether they are truly required to comply—or if ignoring the email could jeopardize their jobs.

With agency leadership divided and employees left in limbo, all eyes are now on OPM and the federal government’s next steps following the deadline. Will the administration enforce Musk’s ultimatum, or will the conflicting instructions from agencies create further turmoil in the federal workforce?