- United States
- Ill.
- Letter
The recent takeover of the Office of Personnel Management by Elon Musk and his interference in federal agencies is deeply concerning, including Musk's team gaining access to the US treasury payments system. As public servants dedicated to upholding the rule of law and serving the American people, we call for an immediate end to Musk's unilateral actions that undermine democratic norms and threaten the integrity of the civil service. Musk's attempt to purge the federal workforce of those involved in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives directly contradicts established laws and court rulings protecting against discrimination. His efforts to remove career civil servants and replace them with political appointees jeopardize the non-partisan nature of the executive branch. This overreach represents a severe threat to long-standing principles of good governance. Federal workers have expressed palpable fear and anxiety due to Musk's intimidation tactics, threats of mass firings, and his team's access to treasury payment systems. These actions create a chilling effect on employees' ability to perform their duties ethically and without undue influence. Qualified public servants should not be subjected to such an environment. We urge Congress and the judiciary to exercise their Constitutional authority and rein in this unprecedented overreach by an unelected private citizen with access to critical government systems. Musk must be removed from any role in federal personnel matters immediately to restore confidence in our democratic institutions. The civil service system was established to insulate government operations from partisan interference - a principle that must be vigorously defended.