Several major U.S. government agencies have reportedly instructed their employees not to respond to an email from billionaire Elon Musk. The email, sent to numerous federal staff, asked a simple yet unusual question: What did you do last week? However, agency leaders have advised their employees to ignore the inquiry, raising speculation about the reasoning behind the directive.

While Musk has a history of questioning government policies and regulations, it remains unclear why he sent this particular request. Some believe it could be linked to his ongoing disputes with regulatory bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or even agencies overseeing artificial intelligence and defense projects. Given Musk’s involvement in industries like space exploration, AI, and electric vehicles, his interactions with federal agencies are frequent and sometimes contentious.

Government officials have not publicly commented on why employees were told to disregard Musk’s email. However, cybersecurity concerns and internal protocols could be factors. Agencies typically enforce strict communication guidelines, especially when dealing with high-profile figures or external parties.

The directive has sparked debate, with some critics arguing that government transparency should allow for responses, while others believe that engaging with Musk in this manner is unnecessary or even risky. As one of the world’s most influential business leaders, Musk’s curiosity about government operations could be seen as an attempt to hold agencies accountable—or as an unconventional move with unclear intentions.

For now, the agencies remain silent, leaving Musk—and the public—wondering what the federal workforce did last week.