On Saturday, staff all through the federal authorities obtained an e mail from the Workplace of Personnel Administration (OPM), demanding a reply with “approx. 5 bullets of what you completed final week.” On X, Elon Musk posted that failure to reply “shall be taken as a resignation.” The end result? Confusion, chaos, and resentment amongst a federal workforce that more and more feels underneath assault.
“So fucking dumb,” says one air site visitors controller who obtained the e-mail and was granted anonymity for concern of retribution.
Leaders of many companies seem to have been caught off guard. On the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which homes the Nationwide Climate Service, some managers initially cautioned towards replying to the e-mail in case it was a phishing try. One other NOAA worker says they have been cautioned to not log onto their work e mail after receiving it.
Different employees have been met with conflicting steerage from their managers. On the Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Know-how, which is anticipating deep cuts orchestrated by the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), some staff reported being instructed to await additional steerage whereas others say their managers instructed folks to conform.
The e-mail seems to have been despatched even to federal judges. “We perceive that some judges and judiciary workers have obtained an e mail from HR@opm.gov,” learn an e mail from the director’s workplace of the Division of Administrative Providers for US Federal Courts. “Please be suggested that this e mail didn’t originate from the Judiciary or the Administrative Workplace and we advise that no motion be taken.”
At the very least some army personnel additionally obtained the e-mail, and have been instructed to await steerage from the Division of Protection. That holding sample seems to be the response at most companies, the place employees say they haven’t but heard from senior management if and the way they need to deal with this newest escalation in Musk and DOGE’s ongoing efforts to dramatically cut back the federal workforce. On the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, as an illustration, in an e mail with the topic line “Please Await Steering,” some employees have been instructed that “info is forthcoming,” with none indication of when or from whom.
One other consideration for a lot of isn’t solely whether or not they need to reply, however how. Whereas the OPM e mail specified that staff mustn’t ship categorised info, hyperlinks, or attachments, that severely limits how employees at many authorities companies would possibly be capable to reply.
“Nationwide safety workers are getting notified of OPM’s request, which is taking them from the vital work of making certain nationwide safety pursuits,” stated one supply, who was granted anonymity because of the nature of their work. “These are important staff who preserve us protected.”
“The Government Committee is presently reviewing this request to find out acceptable tips concerning what info will be shared outdoors of the company,” reads an e mail from the Workplace of the Comptroller of the Foreign money, which sits inside the Treasury Division. “Please wait for extra steerage.”
NBC Information reported Saturday that even Kash Patel, the newly put in Federal Bureau of Investigation director and shut ally of President Donald Trump, has instructed staff not to answer the OPM e mail.
