OPINION:
Who knew asking federal employees what they did last week would cause such a commotion? On Saturday, the Office of Personnel Management ordered everyone in the executive branch to provide a quick synopsis.
“Please reply to this email with approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager. Please do not send any classified information, links or attachments,” OPM’s message stated, setting a deadline just before midnight Monday.
Democrats condemned the exercise. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the email “traumatizing.” An irate Rep. Gerald Connolly, ranking member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, demanded that OPM acting Director Charles Ezell withdraw the “reckless” request.
“Today’s actions are a clear attempt by the Trump administration to force the departure of dedicated civil servants who resoundingly refused to take the bait on [Elon] Musk’s scam ‘deferred resignation’ offer,” the Virginia Democrat wrote in a letter to OPM.
Democratic public relations strategists have instructed clients to use Mr. Musk to personify all administration activities. The billionaire entrepreneur and special government employee heads the Department of Government Efficiency.
On Monday, Mr. Musk encouraged thoughtful responses. “Those who do not take this email seriously will soon be furthering their career elsewhere,” he wrote on X.
The American Federation of Government Employees fretted that some union members who were cleared to access secret information may not be bright enough to realize what they are not allowed to discuss on an open channel.
“The email’s vague disclaimer does not provide sufficient guidance on what information employees should avoid disclosing,” AFGE President Everett Kelley wrote to Mr. Ezell. “By allowing the unelected and unhinged Elon Musk to dictate OPM’s action, you have demonstrated a lack of regard for the integrity of federal employees and their critical work.”
It’s disappointing that Democratic lawmakers and union bosses believe the federal workforce cannot perform a simple task. They ought to have more faith in the excellence of the individuals they represent.
Among other objectives, the White House seeks proof of life. “In some cases, we believe non-existent people or the identities of dead people are being used to collect paychecks. In other words, there is outright fraud,” Mr. Musk explained.
Yet this is about more than merely identifying the moribund. High performers who respond quickly and appropriately are being noticed. This is likely the primary goal, as it’s in the public interest to ensure the best and brightest don’t fall victim to the ax of efficiency.
That option wasn’t available to the 2,000 USAID employees whose positions were eliminated Sunday. Now that the Ronald Reagan Building’s office space has been turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, those affected are being instructed on how to clean out their desks.
Mr. Trump determined that USAID no longer fulfills a role that the State Department cannot handle. After initial hesitation, the courts seem to have accepted this outcome, for now. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols rejected the attempt by USAID employees to block their dismissal Friday.
The same Democrats who cheered as feds refusing the COVID-19 vaccine were threatened with termination now clutch their pearls over the prospect that workers unable to justify their employment might be let go.
Mr. Trump promised draining the swamp would make the government more responsive to the people. For this to happen, government must first be responsive to its elected leader.
This is what liberals genuinely fear.
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