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In mid-September, Elon Musk’s efforts to support Donald Trump’s presidential campaign coincided with a surge of letters directed at the Department of Transportation. These letters requested access to emails and text messages concerning Musk, signaling a broader initiative by Trump-aligned groups to uncover perceived partisan biases within the federal government.

Over the past two years, these groups, intent on exposing alleged partisanship, have sent thousands of requests focusing on areas such as diversity programs and climate change communications. This assertive approach has created a palpable unease among federal agencies, with the specter of a potential Trump second term sparking fears of a large-scale purge of civil servants.

One key player in this effort, the Heritage Foundation Oversight Project, led by executive director Mike Howell, has been particularly active. Howell’s organization alone has filed approximately 65,000 requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), aiming to bring to light any content they deem problematic. Similarly, the America First Policy Institute has sought records related to senior-level positions and diversity training programs.

Efforts to identify individuals within the federal workforce who might resist Trump’s agenda have led groups like the American Accountability Foundation to publish lists targeting employees based on their political donations, past affiliations, or social media activity. Tom Jones of the Foundation expressed concerns about liberal activists occupying influential government positions and emphasized the need for alignment with Trump’s policies.

Despite not having direct conversations with Trump’s campaign or transition team, Howell and Jones remain confident that their work is being acknowledged. Trump's previous pledge to reinstate Schedule F, a 2020 executive order allowing for streamlined dismissal of federal employees, could become a reality, affecting around two million federal workers.

While Trump distanced himself from some of the Heritage Foundation’s plans, the Foundation and America First Policy Institute are still major resources for staffing in a potential second term. The latter, chaired by Linda McMahon, continues to have significant influence as part of Trump’s transition team.

Understandably, these actions have alarmed agency officials and unions, with some workers even minimizing what they document in written form to avoid scrutiny. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) union, feeling overwhelmed by FOIA requests from Trump allies, is responding with its own requests and public relations campaigns to counteract the targeting of its members.

Despite substantial volumes of requests, many remain unfulfilled. Howell has accused agencies of delaying responses, suggesting that this could change under a new administration. Meanwhile, the union for EPA employees is intensifying its efforts to protect its members by rallying public and political support.

The Heritage Foundation Oversight Project has publicly released numerous documents related to various contentious topics, though it has not yet listed federal employees for potential termination. Howell has not dismissed the possibility, insisting on the importance of transparency and hinting at his hope that employees with left-leaning views might ultimately be removed from government roles.