In a memo obtained by NewsNation, Patel stated that the bureau would handle future 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 message, per 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 continued. “For now, please pause any responses.”

Musk—who has been spearheading the White House’s efforts to downsize the federal government—announced Saturday afternoon on his social platform X that federal employees would soon receive an email “requesting to understand what they got done last week.