Kash Patel and Other Officials Push Back Against Musk's Mass Firing Plans
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Synopsis
Top US officials, including Kash Patel, resist Elon Musk's controversial demand for federal employees to submit weekly work summaries or face dismissal. This pushback could spark a significant confrontation over national security and bureaucratic oversight.
Key Takeaways
- Kash Patel and other officials oppose Musk's demands.
- Musk's authority stems from President Trump.
- Resistance could escalate tensions in national security sectors.
- Several federal departments have advised employees to ignore Musk.
- Court decisions may influence the outcome of mass firings.
New York, Feb 24 (NationPress) The head of US domestic intelligence, Kash Patel, along with other high-ranking officials in sensitive sectors, are openly challenging Elon Musk. They have instructed employees to disregard the billionaire's ultimatum to submit five bullet-pointed summaries of their work from the previous week or face termination.
Musk has imposed a deadline of Monday for over 2.5 million federal employees to respond or risk losing their positions.
This resistance from officials in intelligence, defense, and diplomacy sectors is a direct challenge to Musk's authority, which is derived from President Donald Trump. Trump has tasked Musk with the challenge of reducing costs and enhancing efficiency within the federal government.
If Trump aligns himself with Musk, it could lead to a significant confrontation in areas crucial for national security.
Both Musk and Trump are leveraging public skepticism regarding bureaucracy and the negative sentiment toward government employees.
Musk expressed on X, "The reason this matters is that a significant number of people who are supposed to be working for the government are doing so little work that they are not checking their email at all!"
Patel, who has recently taken over as the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), circulated a memo to his agency's employees advising them to ignore Musk's demands.
The National Intelligence Director, Tulsi Gabbard, also conveyed a similar message to the Intelligence Community under her oversight, emphasizing that their work is "inherently sensitive and classified."
Additionally, the National Security Agency, along with the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and State, have instructed their personnel to disregard Musk's directive, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Revealing the operations of these departments could jeopardize ongoing investigations and sensitive casework.
Reasserting his authority, Patel stated, "The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures."
Though Musk has not responded directly to Patel or Gabbard, he threatened on X that "anyone with the attitude of that Pentagon official needs to look for a new job."
Darin Selnick, the acting under-secretary for personnel and readiness, has issued a counter-instruction to Musk's demand.
Musk has previously overseen the closure of USAID, the international assistance agency, and has executed mass firings across various departments.
Despite its formal title, DOGE lacks the constitutional or legal standing of a government department.
Trump has not publicly intervened in the defiance exhibited by some agency leaders, other than to comment on Truth Social, "Elon is doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive. Remember, we have a country to save, but ultimately, to make greater than ever before."
He also shared Musk's claims of having "streamlined a filing process, cutting retrieval time by 20 percent," briefed officials on a secret project, and "drafted a memo that sparked a new interdepartmental initiative."
Moreover, Musk appears indifferent to the Constitution, which does not grant the executive branch authority over the judiciary to ensure judicial independence.
Following federal judges receiving demands to disclose their work from the past week, the federal court's administrative office instructed them not to comply.
However, Musk has garnered support from other officials. Washington's acting federal prosecutor, Ed Martin, commended DOGE and Musk, stating, "We are happy to participate."
Some of Musk's firings have inadvertently impacted national security. Recently, the National Nuclear Safety Agency, responsible for managing the nuclear arsenal, had to reinstate most of the 300 staff members previously laid off due to potential threats to national security.
While not directly connected to national security, the Food and Drug Administration recalled certain dismissed scientists involved with Musk's Neuralink to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.
The courts are expected to ultimately adjudicate the mass firings of government personnel, and unions have hinted at potential lawsuits.
Trump's administration received a temporary reprieve when a judge overturned a restraining order against the dismissal of USAID employees.
