The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) faced controversy as its chief spokesperson, McLaurine Pinover, utilized her office for a side hustle as an aspiring Instagram fashion influencer. Despite overseeing layoffs and job justifications for federal workers, Pinover filmed videos in her OPM office showcasing her daily outfits and directing followers to a website where she could earn commissions on clothing sales.

Her actions drew criticism, with watchdog groups raising concerns about using government property for personal benefit and former OPM staffers expressing offense at her posts while defending layoffs of federal workers. Pinover’s Instagram account linked to a site where viewers could purchase the clothing she wore, potentially earning commissions through affiliate links.

While Pinover did not respond to inquiries and deleted her Instagram account after questioning, her videos filmed during business hours inside the OPM office sparked ethical debates on government resource use. Despite potential rule violations, experts noted that Pinover did not reference her OPM position in her posts.

The controversy highlighted conflicting interests between personal endeavors and government responsibilities, with Pinover’s actions raising questions about ethical conduct and the misuse of public property for private gain. As the situation unfolds, it underscores the complexities of navigating personal pursuits within a government role and the importance of upholding ethical standards in public service.