1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

Urgent action is needed to address the alarming situation at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) under Elon Musk's control. Reports indicate Musk's aides have locked career civil servants out of critical computer systems containing personal data of millions of federal employees. This raises severe concerns about cybersecurity risks, lack of oversight, and potential misuse of sensitive information. The OPM manages a vast database called Enterprise Human Resources Integration, which houses details like Social Security numbers, addresses, pay grades, and performance reviews of government workers. Allowing unfettered access to this trove of data to Musk's team without proper vetting and monitoring poses an unacceptable threat to the privacy and security of federal personnel. Moreover, the actions of Musk's appointees, such as installing sofa beds at OPM headquarters for around-the-clock work and relocating senior officials, suggest a hostile takeover of this critical agency. This undermines the principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability that should guide the federal workforce. Congress must act swiftly to investigate these concerning developments and take necessary steps to restore proper oversight and safeguards at the OPM. Unchecked access to sensitive data systems by unvetted private individuals is an untenable breach of public trust that jeopardizes the integrity of our civil service. Urgent congressional intervention is imperative to protect the rights and privacy of federal employees and uphold the core values of our democratic institutions.