Charles Ezell
Exited govt: 10/XX/25 (self-reported)
Before the Trump inauguration, Charles Ezell’s title was Branch Chief for OPM’s Data & Analytics division located in Macon, GA. Through circumstances currently unknown, he was named the new Acting Director for the agency on January 20th. Since then, he has used his position to be the quintessential enabler, providing cover (and sometimes firepower) to ensure the DOGE is able to get its way within the agency. Ths included such work as immediately replacing the CIO with Greg Hogan or issuing directives asking for data on probationary workers or other data calls with ridiculously tight deadlines. At some times, even Ezell seemed like he was caught flat-footed by DOGE’s plans, including the confusing rollouts for the “Fork in the Road” or the “Five Things” emails. He also has wildly overstated the control that OPM has over federal hiring and firing.
He certainly has done the most work for DOGE of any acting administrator. Perhaps this is why he was still in the role months later, with nominee Scott Kupor not being confirmed by the Senate until July 9th.
Positions
Promotion:
1/20/25-7/09/25 promoted to Acting Director «Replaced by Scott Kupor’s appointment»
Demotion:
7/09/25-10/XX/25 demoted to Senior Advisor
Offboarding:
Left govt 10/XX/25 (self-reported)
Promotion:
1/20/25-7/09/25 promoted to Acting Director «Replaced by Scott Kupor’s appointment»
Demotion:
7/09/25-10/XX/25 demoted to Senior Advisor
Offboarding:
Left govt 10/XX/25 (self-reported)
| Source: | Order on Acting Cabinet and Cabinet-Level Appointments GovInfo, 1/20/25 |
| Source: | LinkedIn profile for Charles Ezell LinkedIn, |
Events
1/20/25
Promotion:
Charles Ezell promoted to Acting Director at OPM
Promotion:
Charles Ezell promoted to Acting Director at OPM
| Promotion: | Charles Ezell 1/20/25-7/09/25 |
| Position Title: | Acting Director |
| Source: | Order on Acting Cabinet and Cabinet-Level Appointments GovInfo, 1/20/25 |
| Note: | Replaced by Scott Kupor's appointment |
:
:
| System Access: | opm.gov: OPM Website |
| : | read-write, 1/20/25 Charles Ezell |
| Note: | The OPM website |
System Access:
IT staff at OPM are pulled into a “911-esque call” requesting that “a political team” of 6 individuals must be given access to OPM systems. These include Charles Ezell, Greg Hogan, and Amanda Scales, as well as unidentified employees OPM-03 (Akash Bobba), OPM-05 (Gavin Kliger) and OPM-07 (Brian Bjelde). These DOGE staffers are granted administrative access to USAJOBS, USA Staffing, and USA Performance systems.
System Access:
IT staff at OPM are pulled into a “911-esque call” requesting that “a political team” of 6 individuals must be given access to OPM systems. These include Charles Ezell, Greg Hogan, and Amanda Scales, as well as unidentified employees OPM-03 (Akash Bobba), OPM-05 (Gavin Kliger) and OPM-07 (Brian Bjelde). These DOGE staffers are granted administrative access to USAJOBS, USA Staffing, and USA Performance systems.
| Person: | Akash Bobba, Amanda Scales, Brian Bjelde, Charles Ezell, Gavin Kliger, Greg Hogan |
| Source: | AFGE, AFL-CIO v. OPM, doc 121 Court Document, 6/09/25 |
| Agency: | OPM |
| DOGE Project: | Impunity, Anti-Personnel |
Disruption:
Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell replaces existing CIO Melvin Brown with DOGE ally Greg Hogan, who will serve as the Acting CIO.
Disruption:
Acting OPM Director Charles Ezell replaces existing CIO Melvin Brown with DOGE ally Greg Hogan, who will serve as the Acting CIO.
| Person: | Charles Ezell, Greg Hogan |
| Source: | Musk associates given unfettered access to private data of government employees Muskwatch, 2/03/25 |
| Agency: | OPM |
| DOGE Project: | Anti-Personnel |
1/24/25
:
:
| System Access: | STAMP |
| : | unknown, 1/24/25 Charles Ezell |
| Note: | This is a system at OPM that I do not have information about yet |
1/27/25
System Access:
Charles Ezell sends an email to OPM IT staff stating that OPM-02 (Riccardo Biasini), OPM-04 (Edward Coristine), and OPM-06 (Nikhil Rajpal) “urgently” need access to several sensitive systems within the agency.
System Access:
Charles Ezell sends an email to OPM IT staff stating that OPM-02 (Riccardo Biasini), OPM-04 (Edward Coristine), and OPM-06 (Nikhil Rajpal) “urgently” need access to several sensitive systems within the agency.
| Person: | Charles Ezell, Edward Coristine, Nikhil Rajpal, Riccardo Biasini |
| Source: | AFGE, AFL-CIO v. OPM, doc 121 Court Document, 6/09/25 |
| Agency: | OPM |
| DOGE Project: | Impunity |
1/31/25
| Person: | Amanda Scales, Charles Ezell, Riccardo Biasini |
| Source: | Exclusive: Musk aides lock workers out of OPM computer systems Reuters, 1/31/25 |
| Agency: | OPM |
| DOGE Project: | Impunity |
2/12/25
Identification:
In a FOIA request, Democracy Forward names DOGE staff known to be at OPM at that time.
Identification:
In a FOIA request, Democracy Forward names DOGE staff known to be at OPM at that time.
| Person: | Akash Bobba, Amanda Scales, Anthony Armstrong, Austin Raynor, Brian Bjelde, Bryanne-Michelle Mlodzianowski, Charles Ezell, Christina Hanna, Edward Coristine, Gavin Kliger, Greg Hogan, Jacob Altik, Joanna Wischer, Justin Monroe, Nikhil Rajpal, Noah Peters, Riccardo Biasini, Stephanie Holmes, Stephen Duarte |
| Source: | Complaint for Injunctive Relief Democracy Forward, 3/03/25 |
| Agency: | OPM |
3/24/25
Legal:
Ruling in American Federation of Teachers et al v. Bessent et al, Judge Boardman issues a preliminary injunction against access by DOGE staff to internal systems at OPM by DOGE. However, he still allows access for DOGE-affiliated leadership at the agency including Charles Ezell, Amanda Scales and Greg Hogan.
Legal:
Ruling in American Federation of Teachers et al v. Bessent et al, Judge Boardman issues a preliminary injunction against access by DOGE staff to internal systems at OPM by DOGE. However, he still allows access for DOGE-affiliated leadership at the agency including Charles Ezell, Amanda Scales and Greg Hogan.
| Person: | Amanda Scales, Charles Ezell, Greg Hogan |
| Source: | American Federation of Teachers v. Bessent, doc 69 Court Document, 3/24/25 |
| Agency: | OPM |
7/09/25
Demotion:
Charles Ezell demoted to Senior Advisor at OPM
Demotion:
Charles Ezell demoted to Senior Advisor at OPM
| Demotion: | Charles Ezell 7/09/25-10/XX/25 |
| Position Title: | Senior Advisor, Office of the Director |
| Source: | LinkedIn profile for Charles Ezell LinkedIn, |
Onboarding:
Scott Kupor is confirmed by the Senate to be the new Director of OPM, replacing Charles Ezell who had been serving in an acting capacity since January 20th.
Onboarding:
Scott Kupor is confirmed by the Senate to be the new Director of OPM, replacing Charles Ezell who had been serving in an acting capacity since January 20th.
| Person: | Charles Ezell, Scott Kupor |
| Source: | Senate confirms new OPM director to take the reins on federal workforce overhauls Federal News Network, 7/10/25 |
| Agency: | OPM |
10/XX/25
Offboarding:
Offboarding:
| Demotion: | Charles Ezell 7/09/25-10/XX/25 |
| Position Title: | Senior Advisor, Office of the Director |
| Source: | LinkedIn profile for Charles Ezell LinkedIn, |