Some federal agencies, including the State and Defense Departments, told their employees not to respond to an email asking for a list of tasks they completed.

Musk’s directive to federal employees to justify their jobs falls flat as the Office of Personnel Management says it's safe to disregard his message.

Musk is "an employee of the White House Office" and "holds a position as a non-career Special Government Employee," the filing said. "Like other senior White House advisors, Mr Musk has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself."