Government Agency Locks Out Career Employees Amidst Restructuring
Background
Since taking office 11 days ago, President Donald Trump has embarked on a massive government makeover, firing and sidelining hundreds of civil servants in his first steps toward downsizing the bureaucracy and installing more loyalists.
OPM Restructuring
Musk, the billionaire Tesla CEO and X owner tasked by Trump to slash the size of the 2.2 million-strong civilian government workforce, has moved swiftly to install allies at the agency known as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Two agency officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, said some senior career employees at OPM have had their access revoked to some of the department’s data systems.
Data Systems Locked Out
The systems include a vast database called Enterprise Human Resources Integration, which contains dates of birth, Social Security numbers, appraisals, home addresses, pay grades, and length of service of government workers, the officials said. "We have no visibility into what they are doing with the computer and data systems," one of the officials said. "That is creating great concern. There is no oversight. It creates real cybersecurity and hacking implications."
OPM Memos
OPM has sent out memos that eschew the normal dry wording of government missives as it encourages civil servants to consider buyout offers to quit and take a vacation to a "dream destination." Don Moynihan, a professor at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, said the actions inside OPM raised concerns about congressional oversight at the agency and how Trump and Musk view the federal bureaucracy.
Musk’s Influence
A team including current and former employees of Musk assumed command of OPM on January 20, the day Trump took office. They have moved sofa beds onto the fifth floor of the agency’s headquarters, which contains the director’s office and can only be accessed with a security badge or a security escort, one of the OPM employees said. The sofa beds have been installed so the team can work around the clock, the employee said.
New Appointees
The new appointees in charge of OPM have moved the agency’s chief management officer, Katie Malague, out of her office and to a new office on a different floor, the officials said. Malague did not respond to a request for comment. The moves by Musk’s aides at OPM, and upheaval inside the Treasury building caused by other Musk aides that was reported on Friday, underscore the sweeping influence Musk is having across government.
Conclusion
The actions taken by Musk’s allies at OPM have raised concerns about the safety and security of government data and the future of the federal workforce. The restructuring efforts may also impact the agency’s ability to effectively serve the public and make informed decisions.
FAQs
Q: What is the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)?
A: OPM is the human resources agency of the federal government responsible for recruiting, retaining, and managing the civilian workforce.
Q: Who is Elon Musk?
A: Elon Musk is a billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and X.
Q: What is the purpose of the restructuring efforts at OPM?
A: The restructuring efforts are aimed at downsizing the bureaucracy and installing more loyalists.
Q: How will the restructuring efforts impact the federal workforce?
A: The restructuring efforts may impact the ability of the federal workforce to effectively serve the public and make informed decisions.
Q: What is the Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) database?
A: EHRI is a vast database that contains personal data of government workers, including dates of birth, Social Security numbers, appraisals, home addresses, pay grades, and length of service.