From an insider at (not part of) the PTO:
“There has been a lot of press and blogs about the leadership at the USPTO, but being on-site and knowing most of them, it appears to be ‘business as usual’. It is only my opinion but I think until Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross is confirmed, everybody has been asked to be silent. This silence is certainly different, but daily operations on-site have appeared to be normal this last month. I am patiently waiting until Mr. Ross’s hearings.”
Regards,
Hal