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.

Leaders at defense and intelligence offices were particularly wary of Musk’s demand over the weekend asking workers to outline what they did last week.

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 Office of Personnel Management told HR officials that employees wouldn’t be let go for not replying to an email asking what they did last week.

The Trump administration, ahead of a Monday evening deadline, is backing off Elon Musk’s weekend mandate that all federal employees submit five things they accomplished in the last week or face dismissal.