HHS Warns Employees Against Submitting Accomplishments to Elon Musk, Citing Security Concerns
HHS Directive
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a directive to its employees, advising them against responding to Elon Musk’s directive to submit a list of five accomplishments for the past week. HHS cited concerns that such responses could be intercepted by "malign foreign actors."
OPM’s Rescinded Directive
The initial directive originated from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and was titled "What did you do last week?" It mandated federal employees to provide five bullet points detailing their accomplishments over the past week, under threat of termination. However, OPM has since rescinded this mandatory requirement.
HHS Guidelines for Employees
HHS provided employees with a set of guidelines if they choose to respond to OPM’s request:
- Deadline: Respond by Monday at 11:59 p.m.
- Generality: Keep responses general and avoid specific details.
- Data Protection: Protect sensitive data, including information that could identify others in the agency or specific grants or contracts.
- Research-Related Responses: Avoid identifying drugs, devices, or other specific research items.
- Tailor Responses: Assume that responses will be read by malicious actors and tailor them accordingly.
Musk’s Withdrawal of Deadline
Elon Musk, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, has withdrawn the earlier deadline for employees to submit productivity reports. He clarified that employees will be given another chance if they fail to respond initially. However, he also stated that a second failure to respond will result in termination.
Agency Responses
Various agencies have responded differently to Musk’s directive:
- Department of Defense (DoD): Instructed civilian workforce to ignore Musk’s request.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Told employees to pause any responses and await further instructions from the FBI Director’s Office.
- State Department: Informed employees that department officials will respond on its behalf.
Musk’s Later Clarification on X
Musk later clarified on X that the requirement is subject to the President’s discretion. Employees who fail to respond initially will be given another chance. However, a second failure to respond will still result in termination.
Implications and Concerns
The HHS directive raises concerns about the potential for foreign espionage and data breaches. Experts warn that such a directive could lead to malicious actors gaining access to sensitive government information. Furthermore, the threat of termination for non-compliance raises questions about the government’s commitment to data privacy and employee rights.
Conclusion
The HHS directive reflects the broader concerns within the federal government about data security and potential foreign interference. While the administration has withdrawn the initial deadline for productivity reports, it remains to be seen how employees will respond and whether the government will continue to pursue such measures in the future.
