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 consequence? Confusion, chaos, and resentment amongst a federal workforce that more and more feels beneath 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 in opposition to 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 staff have been met with conflicting steering from their managers. On the Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Expertise, which is anticipating deep cuts orchestrated by the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), some staff reported being informed to await additional steering 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 employees have obtained an e mail from HR@opm.gov,” learn an e mail from the director’s workplace of the Division of Administrative Companies for US Federal Courts. “Please be suggested that this e mail didn’t originate from the Judiciary or the Administrative Workplace and we recommend that no motion be taken.”
No less than some army personnel additionally obtained the e-mail, and have been informed to await steering from the Division of Protection. That holding sample seems to be the response at most companies, the place staff 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 scale back the federal workforce. On the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, for example, in an e mail with the topic line “Please Await Steering,” some staff have been informed that “info is forthcoming,” with none indication of when or from whom.
One other consideration for a lot of shouldn’t be solely whether or not they need to reply, however how. Whereas the OPM e mail specified that staff mustn’t ship categorized info, hyperlinks, or attachments, that severely limits how staff at many authorities companies would possibly have the ability to reply.
“Nationwide safety employees are getting notified of OPM’s request, which is taking them from the essential work of guaranteeing nationwide safety pursuits,” mentioned one supply, who was granted anonymity as a result of nature of their work. “These are important staff who hold us secure.”
“The Govt Committee is at present reviewing this request to find out acceptable tips concerning what info could be shared outdoors of the company,” reads an e mail from the Workplace of the Comptroller of the Foreign money, which sits throughout the Treasury Division. “Please wait for added steering.”
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.
