Elon Musk’s Aides Seize Control of Federal Personnel Systems, Sparking Concerns Over Transparency and Oversight

Washington – The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal agency responsible for overseeing the 2.2 million-strong U.S. civilian workforce, has been thrust into the spotlight after Elon Musk’s newly installed aides restricted access to key personnel systems, effectively locking out long-standing career officials.

Musk, the billionaire Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) CEO, was tapped by former President Donald Trump to streamline and reduce the size of the federal workforce, marking one of the most aggressive government restructuring efforts in modern history. Since Trump’s return to office 11 days ago, his administration has undertaken sweeping changes, sidelining hundreds of civil servants while bringing in loyalists and private-sector executives to execute a radical shakeup.

System Lockouts and Rising Tensions

Reports from agency insiders reveal that senior OPM officials lost access to the Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) system, a massive database containing classified employee information, including Social Security numbers, home addresses, and performance appraisals.

One senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed deep concern:

“We have no visibility into what they are doing. This lack of oversight raises cybersecurity risks and potential misuse of sensitive data.”

The move has sparked alarm across federal agencies, with some fearing a broader effort to reshape the government’s hiring and personnel management policies without transparency.

Drastic Workplace Changes Under Musk’s Team

Since assuming operational control of OPM on January 20, Musk’s newly installed executives have made rapid and unconventional changes, including:

1. Turning OPM into a ‘War Room’ – Musk’s appointees have reportedly moved sofa beds into the agency’s headquarters, allowing staffers to work round the clock, mirroring the “hardcore” work culture Musk enforced at X after acquiring the company in 2022.

2. Forcing Senior Officials Out – Katie Malague, OPM’s Chief Management Officer, was abruptly relocated to another floor, while David Lebryk, the U.S. Treasury’s highest-ranking career official, is reportedly stepping down following a clash with Musk’s team over access to federal payroll systems.

3. Urgent Buyout Offers to Employees – Internal memos from OPM’s acting director, Charles Ezell, have offered federal workers the option to resign with eight months of severance pay, an unprecedented move that caught many by surprise. One memo even encouraged employees to use their severance for a "dream vacation".

4. Restricted Communication and Internal Secrecy – Many career officials at OPM have reported that they were blindsided by these policy changes, only discovering them through public announcements, further limiting oversight and transparency.

A Battle Over Federal Workforce Control?

Observers have warned that Musk’s rapid restructuring of OPM could significantly alter the U.S. federal workforce, potentially prioritizing private-sector efficiency over traditional government protections.

Don Moynihan, a professor at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, voiced concerns over the lack of Congressional oversight, stating:

“Musk’s inner circle now has complete control over OPM. This makes it much harder for external oversight bodies to monitor what’s happening inside the agency.”

Meanwhile, the White House, OPM, and Musk himself have not commented on the sweeping changes, fueling speculation that the government’s human resource systems are being restructured in secrecy.

Who’s in Charge at OPM Now?

Key figures installed by Musk at OPM include:

• Brian Bjelde – Former SpaceX Vice President of Human Resources, now serving as a Senior Adviser at OPM.
• Amanda Scales – Previously worked under Musk and is now Chief of Staff at OPM.
• Riccardo Biasini – Former Tesla engineer and The Boring Company director, now a Senior Adviser.

What’s Next?

As civil servants face uncertainty over their roles, many are bracing for further shake-ups in the coming weeks. Congressional leaders are expected to scrutinize Musk’s control over OPM, particularly in relation to data security, workforce reductions, and hiring processes.

With Trump pushing for major government downsizing and Musk’s tech-driven strategies reshaping federal management, the future of the U.S. workforce remains in flux.