In a striking case of apparent ethical misconduct, McLaurine Pinover, the spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), was found using her government office as a backdrop for her aspiring career as a fashion influencer on Instagram. Amid the agency’s layoffs impacting thousands of federal workers—an initiative strongly backed by the Trump administration—Pinover regularly posted videos showcasing her outfits while directing followers to a website that could yield her commissions on clothing sales.
Crisis deepened the irony: on the same day OPM urged federal officials to identify barriers to swiftly terminate underperforming employees, Pinover shared a playful video with the caption “work look,” marked with hashtags such as #dcinfluencer. Her social media content included a link to a high-end purple skirt she modelled, priced at US$475.
Concerns were raised by watchdog groups over potential violations of federal regulations forbidding the use of government property for personal profit. Insiders at OPM expressed their dissatisfaction with Pinover’s behaviour, especially given the context of widespread job cuts within the agency. Former OPM communications director, Jack Miller, emphasised that her focus should instead have been on protecting agency staff during layoffs, remarking, “Instead of fighting tooth and nail to keep your team, we’re posting fashion videos. It’s absurd.”
Pinover began her OPM role in January and had been vocally supportive of job cuts and buyouts affecting federal employees. Following media inquiries from CNN, she deleted her Instagram account, which featured about 800 followers and did not declare her government position.
Her Instagram videos, conducted during business hours, were filmed at the OPM’s Washington DC headquarters, raising further ethical concerns as they coincided with significant layoffs and efficiency drives initiated under the current administration. Former staff members were particularly offended when Pinover posted a fashion video on the day her department conducted layoffs, viewing it as an inappropriate response to the seriousness of the situation.
With allegations surfacing that her activities breached rules governing government employees’ use of public resources, ethics experts weighed in. While some noted that her potential infractions were relatively minor compared to larger governance issues related to the Trump administration, others were troubled by Pinover’s apparent disregard for her responsibilities and the distressing impacts on her colleagues.
Pinover’s actions highlight a broader tension within the federal workforce as significant personnel cuts continue. The incident serves as a reminder of the ethics and expectations placed upon those in public service, raising questions about the intersection of personal ambition and professional responsibility in governmental roles.