On Saturday, staff all through the federal authorities obtained an electronic mail from the Workplace of Personnel Administration (OPM), demanding a reply with “approx. 5 bullets of what you achieved final week.” On X, Elon Musk posted that failure to reply “can 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 electronic mail after receiving it.
Different staff have been met with conflicting steering 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 advised to await additional steering whereas others say their managers instructed individuals 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 electronic mail from [email protected],” learn an electronic mail from the director’s workplace of the Division of Administrative Providers for US Federal Courts. “Please be suggested that this electronic mail didn’t originate from the Judiciary or the Administrative Workplace and we propose that no motion be taken.”
No less than some navy personnel additionally obtained the e-mail, and have been advised 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 cut back the federal workforce. On the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, as an illustration, in an electronic mail with the topic line “Please Await Steerage,” some staff have been advised that “info is forthcoming,” with none indication of when or from whom.
One other consideration for a lot of just isn’t solely whether or not they need to reply, however how. Whereas the OPM electronic mail specified that staff shouldn’t ship categorised info, hyperlinks, or attachments, that severely limits how staff at many authorities companies would possibly be capable of reply.
“Nationwide safety workers are getting notified of OPM’s request, which is taking them from the essential work of making certain 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 protected.”
“The Govt Committee is at the moment reviewing this request to find out applicable pointers concerning what info will be shared exterior of the company,” reads an electronic mail from the Workplace of the Comptroller of the Foreign money, which sits inside 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 reply to the OPM electronic mail.
