"The Entire Team Got Fired..." Controversy Over 'Fashion Show' by HR Spokesperson During Work

OPM Spokesperson Posts Influencer Videos at the Office
Federal Employees Outraged: "Leading Layoffs... This Is Outrageous"

The Chief Spokesperson of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which manages U.S. federal employees, is embroiled in controversy after posting a 'fashion show' on social media (SNS) during work hours. The OPM is the agency leading the federal workforce reduction efforts as part of the federal government reform initiatives launched under the second Trump administration.

U.S. CNN recently reported that McLorin Pinover, OPM's Chief Spokesperson, uploaded more than a dozen videos filmed in the office to her Instagram account.

According to CNN's analysis, many of the videos were recorded during working hours on the 5th floor of the OPM headquarters in Washington DC, specifically in the Communications Director's office, and then posted on social media. This office is located opposite the annex where DOGE employees, led by Elon Musk, work.

The day these videos were posted was also the day OPM ordered federal agencies to lay off thousands of employees, with news circulating that about 20 members of Pinover's team would be dismissed.

Her Instagram account included links to websites where viewers could purchase clothing items such as a $475 (approximately 690,000 KRW) purple skirt. The videos were captioned with phrases like "at work" and tagged with hashtags such as "Washington DC influencer" and "DC style." This raised suspicions that she might be trying to earn commissions from sales through these links.

A video clip filmed in the office by MacLaurin Pinover, Senior Spokesperson of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
[Image source=Captured from X (formerly Twitter)]

On the 28th of last month, Pinover posted videos again on the same day OPM sent an email to federal employees requesting them to "specifically describe the tasks they perform."

Former federal employees expressed outrage, saying, "The person leading mass layoffs of federal workers is posting as a fashion influencer inside a government building," and "Posting such videos on the very day the entire team is being laid off is outrageous."

Attorney Donald Sherman told CNN, "Pinover's posts appear to violate rules prohibiting the use of government resources for personal gain." He added, "Dedicated federal employees are being laid off en masse for various vague reasons, yet someone leading this effort is using government resources for personal benefit, which is problematic."

Earlier, on the 11th of last month, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agency heads to swiftly begin preparations for large-scale workforce reductions as part of federal government restructuring.

President Trump initially attempted to reduce federal personnel through voluntary early retirement. However, when the number of applicants fell short of expectations at around 75,000, he announced additional measures.

The shock experienced by those suddenly dismissed from their jobs was reportedly significant. Nick Joia, who joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture last December after 17 years of military service, expressed feelings of betrayal upon receiving his layoff notice, saying, "I feel betrayed by my country," and "It feels like a game that has nothing to do with federal employees."