FBI’s Patel Instructs Staff, For Now, To Pause DOGE Email Responses
FBI Director Kash Patel instructed employees to hold off on responding to an email—sent under the direction of tech billionaire Elon Musk—that asked federal workers to provide a summary of their accomplishments from the previous week.
According to a memo acquired by NewsNation, Patel clarified that the bureau would handle any forthcoming responses to inquiries from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
“FBI personnel may have received an email from OPM requesting information,” Patel wrote in his communication, as reported by The Hill. “The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures.”
“When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses,” Patel added. “For now, please pause any responses.”
Musk—who has been leading the White House’s push to reduce the size of the federal government—announced on his social media platform X that federal employees would soon be receiving an email “requesting to understand what they got done last week.”
“Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation,” he stated.
The message, which The Hill reviewed, directed federal employees to “please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullet points of what you accomplished last week,” while also copying their managers. The deadline for submission was set for 11:59 p.m. Monday night, according to the email.
Similarly, The Hill reported that the State Department is following the FBI’s approach.
“The State Department will respond on behalf of the Department. No employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command,” read a notice from Tibor Nagy, acting undersecretary for management at the State Department.
Additionally, Patel has been selected by the White House to take charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), which operates under the Department of Justice.
This development follows Patel’s swearing-in as FBI director just one day prior, as reported by Fox News. On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi dismissed ATF general counsel Pamela Hicks from her role.
“Earlier today, I was served official notice from the Attorney General of the United States that I was being removed from my position as the Chief Counsel of ATF and my employment with the Department of Justice terminated,” Hicks posted on her LinkedIn page, confirming her departure.
Hicks had been ATF’s chief counsel since 2021 under the Biden administration and had previously served as deputy chief counsel during President Donald Trump’s first term. She had a total of 23 years of experience as an attorney within the Department of Justice (DOJ), as stated in her LinkedIn profile.
“Serving as ATF Chief Counsel has been the highest honor of my career and working with the people at ATF and throughout the Department has been a pleasure,” Hicks wrote. “I thank my colleagues for their friendship and partnership over the years.”
“These people were targeting gun owners,” Bondi told Fox News on Thursday regarding the ATF’s prior administration. “Not gonna happen under this administration.”
On Sunday evening, Trump announced that Dan Bongino will serve as the next deputy director of the FBI.
Trump shared the news on his Truth Social account:
“Great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice! Dan Bongino, a man of incredible love and passion for our Country, has just been named the next DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, by the man who will be the best ever Director, Kash Patel. Dan has a Masters Degree in Psychology from C.U.N.Y., and an MBA from Penn State. He was a member of the New York Police Department (New York’s Finest!), a highly respected Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, and is now one of the most successful Podcasters in the Country, something he is willing and prepared to give up in order to serve. Working with our great new United States Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and Director Patel, Fairness, Justice, Law and Order will be brought back to America, and quickly. Congratulations Dan!”