Elon Musk's team shakes up federal workforce systems
Elon Musk, CEO and owner of X, was tasked by Trump with reducing the 2.2 million federal workforce. Musk swiftly took action to reform US government agencies. However, reports are emerging in the media about interference with computer systems containing the personal data of millions of federal employees.
According to two agency representatives, Elon Musk's associates, who manage the US Federal Human Resources agency, have blocked government officials from accessing computer systems. Reuters reported that this might indicate the announced reduction of bureaucracy in the American governmental system.
Two officials, who spoke to Reuters under the condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation, said that some senior staff in the Office of Personnel Management were denied access to specific departmental data systems. Agency informants reported that the systems include a comprehensive Enterprise Human Resources Integration database, which contains sensitive government employee information.
New orders in US federal structures. Employees complain about "Musk's people"
"We have no visibility into what they are doing with the computer and data systems. That is creating great concern. There is no oversight. It creates real cybersecurity and hacking implications," said one official.
Officials affected by this change can still log in and use functions like email. However, they no longer have access to the vast data collections encompassing every aspect of federal employees' work.
Don Moynihan, a professor at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, said the actions within federal structures raise concerns about congressional oversight of the agency and how Trump and Musk view the federal bureaucracy. "This makes it much harder for anyone outside Musk's inner circle at OPM to know what's going on," Moynihan said.
On the day Trump assumed office, a team consisting of current and former Musk employees took control of many government systems. As one employee stated, folding sofas were installed so the new team could work around the clock. "It feels like a hostile takeover," commented an informant.
David Lebryk, a top US Department of the Treasury official, announced his intention to resign after a conflict with Musk's allies. According to The Washington Post, representatives of the platform X owner requested access to payment systems. The new federal resources agency team offered existing employees the option to leave with eight months' salary.
