By Charles Switzer
2:45am PDT, Mar 13, 2025
The Dual Life of McLaurine Pinover
McLaurine Pinover, the chief spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and a DOGE "enforcer," has been caught balancing two drastically different roles — one as a key figure in the
Donald Trump administration's mass federal layoffs and the other as an aspiring Instagram fashion influencer.
In at least a dozen videos filmed inside her government office, Pinover showcased her daily outfits under the hashtag #dcinfluencer while directing followers to a website where she could earn commissions on clothing sales.
This revelation comes as OPM actively pushes thousands of federal employees out of their jobs, a move Pinover herself has publicly defended as a necessary step toward a more efficient workforce.
Here's what happened…
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Fashion Content Amid Government Layoffs Draws Outrage
McLaurine Pinover's social media activity sparked backlash, particularly among former OPM staffers who have been affected by the administration's
drastic personnel cuts. On the same day that OPM sent a government-wide memo urging agencies to swiftly remove underperforming employees, Pinover posted a video blowing a kiss to the camera with the caption "work look."
Her Instagram, which has since been deleted, linked to a platform where she could earn commissions on designer clothing.
"Instead of fighting tooth and nail to keep your team, we're posting fashion videos. It's absurd," said
Jack Miller, her predecessor in the OPM communications role.
Watchdog Groups Raise Ethical Concerns
Ethics experts and watchdog organizations have raised red flags over McLaurine Pinover's influencer side hustle, arguing that her actions could violate government rules prohibiting employees from using public resources for personal financial gain.
Donald K. Sherman, chief counsel for the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), pointed out that Pinover was using government property to promote her personal brand and possibly earn income.
While some ethics analysts argue that her actions may not be as severe as other Donald Trump administration controversies, the optics of a government official benefiting from her position while advocating for mass firings are particularly damning.
Social Media Backlash and Government Response
As news of the enforcer's influencer activities spread, social media erupted with criticism.
Many users questioned how someone in charge of government workforce reductions could "justify spending work hours filming and posting fashion content," one person wrote on X.
Others pointed out the hypocrisy of Elon Musk's DOGE
firing employees for alleged inefficiency while one of its top spokespeople was seemingly using government time and office space to build a personal brand.
Following the
CNN inquiry, McLaurine Pinover deleted both her Instagram account and her ShopMy affiliate links, but neither she nor the administration have issued a formal statement on the controversy.
The Broader Impact on OPM and the Trump Administration
McLaurine Pinover's controversy comes at a critical time for OPM, an agency now at the forefront of Donald Trump's aggressive efforts to overhaul the federal workforce.
The administration's mass layoffs have already been met with legal challenges from multiple attorneys general, who argue that employees have been terminated without due process. The revelation that a key OPM official was moonlighting as an Instagram influencer while advocating for
job cuts only fuels the perception that the administration's cost-cutting measures are selective and politically motivated.
With watchdog groups calling for an investigation, this latest scandal could put even more scrutiny on the ethical standards of the Trump administration's second term.
