New OPM Chief Distances Himself from Elon Musk Amid Trump Tensions

Scott Kupor, the new head of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), said Monday he has no personal ties to Elon Musk and is fully committed to executing President Donald Trump’s agenda. "I have zero personal relationship with Elon Musk. I’ve spoken to him once by phone," Kupor told reporters, addressing speculation about his Silicon Valley connections.

Kupor’s remarks come amid ongoing friction between Trump and Musk, once allies, after Musk’s sharp criticism of the president’s tax and spending bill. Though Musk played a key role in slashing the federal workforce during his time leading the Department of Government Efficiency, he resigned in May to refocus on Tesla and other ventures. His departure was followed by Trump pulling the nomination of Musk associate Jared Isaacman to head NASA.

Kupor, a former partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz—which has invested in Musk’s companies Xai and SpaceX—was nominated in December but faced delays in Senate confirmation. His appointment raised concerns within the administration due to his tech industry background.

Addressing a controversial Musk-initiated policy that required federal employees to submit weekly productivity emails, Kupor said the process was "very manual" and inefficient. He suggested it may be time to reassess its value.

The White House had reportedly installed two Trump loyalists at OPM earlier this year to tighten policy alignment after Musk’s surprise directives caused internal disruption. Kupor emphasized that his role is to support Trump’s goals, not any private individual’s agenda.

His comments aim to clarify his position amid heightened scrutiny of Silicon Valley influence in government, especially as tensions rise between Trump and Musk—once collaborators, now at odds over federal policy and leadership.