Musk's influence triggers upheaval in federal agencies
Elon Musk, CEO and owner of X, whom Trump tasked with reducing the 2.2 million-strong federal workforce, swiftly initiated reforms in US government agencies. Reports are emerging in the media regarding interference with computer systems containing the personal data of millions of federal employees.
According to two agency representatives, Elon Musk's associates, now overseeing the US Federal Human Resources agency, have restricted government officials' access to computer systems. Reuters reported that this could indicate the long-predicted reduction of bureaucracy in the American governmental system.
Two officials, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation, stated that certain senior staff in the Office of Personnel Management were denied access to specific departmental data systems. Agency insiders revealed that these systems include a comprehensive Enterprise Human Resources Integration database, which holds 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," mentioned 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, expressed concerns about the actions within federal structures regarding 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 stated.
A team comprising current and former Musk employees assumed control of numerous government systems on the day Trump took office. 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 insider.
David Lebryk, one of the top officials at the US Department of the Treasury, announced his intention to resign from his position following a conflict with Musk's allies. According to "The Washington Post" on Friday, representatives of the owner of platform X requested access to payment systems. The new federal resources agency team offered existing employees the option to leave with eight months' salary.
