The resistance signaled a possible rift between key Trump administration figures and Musk, who has spearheaded a campaign to slash the government's millions-strong civilian workforce that has sown confusion across multiple agencies.
The email came from the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), with the subject line "What did you do last week?" The deadline to reply was 11:59 p.m. Monday, though the message did not say failure to do so would lead to termination.