Federal employees at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have been locked out of key computer systems containing sensitive data of millions of government workers, as Elon Musk's appointed team takes control of the agency's digital infrastructure.
Two agency officials revealed that Musk's engineers, who were brought in without formal government appointments or confirmation, have revoked senior officials' access to critical databases. Among these is the Enterprise Human Resources Integration system, which stores personal information including Social Security numbers, birthdates, home addresses, and employment details of federal employees.
"We have no visibility into what they are doing with the computer and data systems," said one agency official, expressing alarm over the lack of oversight and potential cybersecurity risks.
The unprecedented move comes as part of an effort to identify $2 trillion in budget cuts from federal spending. However, experts note that eliminating the entire federal workforce, which cost approximately $271 billion in 2022, would still leave a $1.3 trillion gap to reach this target.
Don Moynihan, Professor at the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy, raised concerns about the absence of congressional oversight on these operations. "This makes it much harder for anyone outside Musk's inner circle at OPM to know what's going on," he stated.
While affected staff members can still access their email accounts, they are unable to reach the extensive datasets they previously managed. Reports indicate that Musk's team has established a round-the-clock presence at the OPM office, with sofa beds installed in restricted areas accessible only with special security clearance.
Questions remain about the compensation arrangements for Musk's team, who are reportedly working 80-hour weeks, potentially in violation of federal labor laws. It remains unclear whether these workers are being paid by Musk personally or with taxpayer funds.
The situation continues to raise questions about data security, governmental oversight, and the proper protocols for implementing changes in federal agencies.