IG must investigate OPM Director Scott Kupor’s potential financial conflicts of interest

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) must investigate potential conflicts of interest related to Director Scott Kupor’s financial interest in a company that he was promoting as a partner with OPM’s US Tech Force initiative, according to a complaint submitted by CREW. Federal law bans agency officials from working on matters in which they have a financial interest, including stock ownership.

In December 2025, OPM launched Tech Force as part of a White House initiative to recruit technologists into the federal government and accelerate artificial intelligence implementation. The Tech Force program purportedly is designed to recruit individuals who will serve two-year terms of employment in the federal workforce, and “serve as a recruiting platform post-employment.” Kupor has promoted the Tech Force initiative on behalf of the agency, explaining that it will be a career development program that will include “engagement with our private sector partners” with the goal of returning participants to careers in the private sector. 

In June 2026, Kupor filed periodic transaction reports for sales of stock in one of those private sector partners: Robinhood. The aggregate sales were worth at least $1.7 million, but could potentially have been as much as $3.5 million. His ownership of stock in a company that is part of a major initiative launched by OPM, and that he publicly touted as part of the agency’s rollout, raises significant questions about his compliance with federal ethics statutes and regulations. Officials are prohibited from using their position and government resources to promote private interests, specifically in any way that would affect their own financial interests.

In addition, it is unclear what ethical guardrails have been put in place by Tech Force to address revolving door concerns and ensure compliance with applicable post-government employment restrictions when employees return to the private sector.

To maintain the integrity of the agency and the public’s trust that the agency is operating to fulfill its mission, not benefit the financial interest of officials in charge, it is imperative that OIG thoroughly investigate the apparent financial conflicts of interest of Kupor and other OPM officials involved in Tech Force, as well as review whether agency decisions related to Tech Force have been made consistent with OPM’s mission. In the letter submitted to the Deputy IG, CREW identified areas for investigation, including questions about Kupor’s role and involvement in the establishment of Tech Force and the selection of partnering companies, his financial interests and potential violations of ethics regulations, the choice to include Robinhood in the program and the appropriate protocol and internal guardrails to ensure compliance with federal law. 

The American people must be able to trust that federal officials are pursuing agency actions to achieve the stated mission of their agencies and that they are doing so without regard to whether a particular decision or partnership could benefit their own financial portfolio. 

Screenshot of Scott Kupor from OPM