Federal Agencies Refuse to Comply with Musk's Demand
Key federal agencies, including the FBI, State Department, and Pentagon, have instructed their employees not to comply with Elon Musk's latest demand that they explain what they accomplished last week — or risk losing their job. The pushback from appointees of President Donald Trump marked a new level of chaos and confusion within the beleaguered federal workforce. Administration officials scrambled throughout the weekend to interpret Musk’s unusual mandate, which apparently has Trump’s backing despite some lawmakers arguing it is illegal.
- This refusal to comply reveals a deepening divide between Trump's executive branch and his appointees, who are pushing back against an unprecedented power grab by the cost-cutting chief.
- How will this standoff ultimately impact the morale and productivity of federal employees, many of whom may be forced to choose between following orders or speaking out against what they see as an unjust demand?