A shocking email about President Trump has rocked the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Over 13,000 federal employees received the vile message after the rollout of a new communication system.
The email, with the subject line “Resign,” read, “Aren’t you tired of working for a complete c***?” It quickly sparked outrage. Senior NOAA staff, including Deputy Director of Communications Scott Smullen, quickly apologized, calling the incident a major mistake. Smullen vowed to report it and assured workers that the system would be fixed.
The troubling system launch
This email blast happened shortly after the Trump administration introduced a new communication system. The system, launched by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is meant to allow messages to be sent to all 2.3 million federal employees from a single address.
But things went terribly wrong. The system was used to send out an email that was clearly not appropriate. The debacle comes just after the government began sending mass emails offering federal employees a voluntary “buyout” to leave their positions while staying on the payroll.
Security fears spark lawsuit
It didn’t take long for the fallout to grow. Two federal employees have filed a lawsuit, claiming the system is a major security risk. Lawyer Kel McClanahan is leading the charge, warning that the new email system is an easy target for hackers.
In a statement, McClanahan argued that plugging in a new server to send mass emails to federal employees “invites hackers.” He also raised concerns about the privacy of workers’ data. McClanahan wants the court to stop the system’s rollout until the OPM addresses these serious security flaws.
“The data of every employee is at risk,” he said. “We can’t let this continue.” McClanahan plans to expand the lawsuit into a class action if possible.
Furious workers ready to fight back
Meanwhile, many government employees are refusing to back down. They’ve expressed anger over the new system, as well as the “buyout” offer that accompanied it. The Trump administration is offering federal workers the chance to take voluntary buyouts, essentially allowing them to leave their jobs but remain on the payroll for months.
This offer is tied to President Trump’s executive order requiring federal workers to return to their offices next month. The buyout offer came with a deadline: February 6. Workers were told they could simply email “resign” in the subject line to accept.
But not everyone is on board. Many federal employees are vowing to reject the offer and continue working from home.
Trump’s ultimatum: show up or be fired
Trump has doubled down on the pressure. He’s warned that federal employees who refuse to return to the office by February 6 will be fired.
“We’ve made it clear that if you work for the federal government, you must show up to the office,” Trump said during a White House event. “If you don’t, you’ll be terminated.”
He also predicted that many employees would resist the order. However, he claimed that would ultimately make the government “smaller and more efficient.”
While the email debacle has sparked outrage, and the security concerns are still unresolved, one thing is clear: the new communication system has already caused a stir. Thousands of workers are watching closely as the OPM and the administration navigate the fallout.
What’s next for federal employees?
As the February 6 deadline looms, the tension between the administration and its workers continues to rise. Will employees comply, or will they take a stand? And what will happen if the system’s security concerns aren’t addressed? Only time will tell.
