Recent developments at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have raised concerns about potential workforce reductions following directives from a top lieutenant of Elon Musk. According to sources familiar with the situation, senior staff members at OPM have been tasked with preparing plans to cut 70% of the agency's workforce, with offices instructed to identify 30% of their teams for potential layoffs in the near future.
The directive reportedly came from Brian Bjelde, a senior advisor at OPM who also holds the position of Vice President, People Operations at Musk's SpaceX company. While details on the timing and full implementation of the workforce cuts remain unclear, the influence of Musk and his associates on OPM's decision-making process has become apparent.
OPM, which serves as the central human resources agency for the federal government, has historically been led by career officials with experience spanning multiple administrations. However, the involvement of political appointees linked to Musk in shaping OPM's policies has signaled a shift in the agency's operations.
Despite the significant impact of the proposed workforce reductions, OPM has not provided official comments on the matter at this time. The potential implications of these changes on the agency's operations and employees remain to be seen as the situation continues to unfold.
