A Center Controller reported a lack of guidance from management on how to respond to confusing emails from OPM created a stressful work environment and distracted the workforce from conducting a safe operation at their sectors.

Narrative

While I was working in the sector; we started hearing conversations about FAA employees receiving an email from HR with a vague; unprofessional subject line asking recipients to reply back with a description of what they did the week prior. Conversations arose as controllers were supposed to be engaged in working air traffic to maintain a safe and efficient operation as we always do; but reports from DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) threatening that anybody who does not respond would lose their job. Lack of leadership guidance from higher up; within the FAA; DOT and especially up to OPM created stress; chaos and overall poor working conditions for air traffic control specialists who work 24/7; every day of the week and 365 days a year as we stressed and feared for our employment; job security and how to take care of our families. When there are pending issues like this out there; its not easy to control conversations or mindset even when we are supposed to be focusing on the work at hand. Air traffic controllers still managed; but this was not a safe condition that was thrust upon those of us especially that worked the entire weekend.It is unacceptable for any government entity to instill fear and create stressful working conditions for anyone; especially air traffic control specialists who have worked tirelessly through numerous government shutdowns; and now threats to our jobs when we are supposed to be able to focus primarily on the safe; orderly; expeditious flow of traffic as is the duty and oath we took when we became federal employees hired and trained for the position of air traffic control specialist.