A team of aides linked to Elon Musk, who have taken control of the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM), have restricted career civil servants’ access to computer systems containing sensitive data on millions of federal employees.
This action is part of a broader restructuring effort under President Donald Trump, who, within just 11 days of taking office, has aggressively reshaped the federal administration. Hundreds of government employees have been dismissed or sidelined as Trump moves forward with plans to reduce the 2.2 million-strong civilian workforce and appoint loyalists to key positions.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of social media platform X, has been assigned the task of overseeing this downsizing. His team quickly assumed control of OPM, the federal government’s primary human resources agency.
According to two anonymous agency officials speaking to Reuters, senior career employees at OPM have lost access to specific data systems, including the Enterprise Human Resources Integration database. This system contains confidential details such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, salaries, and performance reviews of government employees.
“We have no oversight on how they are handling the computer and data systems,” one official stated. “This is deeply concerning, as it presents cybersecurity risks and potential hacking threats.”
While affected officials can still access emails and basic functions, they have been restricted from viewing databases with detailed workforce information.
Neither OPM, Musk’s team, nor the White House has provided a statement on the matter.
Concerns Over Transparency and Oversight
The shift in control has sparked concerns over accountability and governance. Don Moynihan, a professor at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, warned that Musk’s influence at OPM could lead to unchecked control over agency operations.
“This limits the ability of anyone outside Musk’s inner circle to understand what’s happening within OPM,” he noted.
Further intensifying concerns, OPM has released unusual memos encouraging employees to accept buyout offers or resignations, even suggesting they take vacations to “dream destinations.”
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Musk’s Influence Extends to Treasury
Musk’s growing authority within the government is also evident at the U.S. Treasury Department, where his associates have sought access to financial systems. The Washington Post reported that David Lebryk, a senior Treasury official, is expected to step down following disputes with Musk’s team.
At OPM, top officials have been reassigned. Chief Management Officer Katie Malague was relocated to another floor, while the acting head of OPM, Charles Ezell, has been issuing directives without prior internal discussions.
“No one here was aware of these memos in advance,” an OPM official disclosed. “We’re learning about them at the same time as the public.”
Key Appointments by Musk’s Allies
The new leadership at OPM includes Brian Bjelde, former Vice President of Human Resources at SpaceX, now serving as a senior adviser. Amanda Scales, another former Musk employee, has taken on the role of OPM’s chief of staff, while Riccardo Biasini, formerly an engineer at Tesla and The Boring Company, has been appointed as a senior adviser.
Among the controversial directives issued recently is an order for federal agencies to identify employees still in their probationary period. Some agency heads have been instructed to communicate directly with Scales via her OPM email.
