Trump adds to confusion about ‘somewhat voluntary’ response to Musk’s federal worker email

Geoff Bennett:

Welcome to the "News Hour."

Today, the Trump administration faced legal pushback on several of the president's executive orders, including his suspension all refugee admissions.

Amna Nawaz:

That is while Elon Musk and his team known as the Department of Government Efficiency are continuing their efforts to dramatically shrink the federal work force.

In a post on his platform X, Musk wrote that government employees had a second chance to reply to an e-mail requesting a list of what they accomplished last week, but — quote — "Failure to respond a second time will result in termination."

Our White House correspondent, Laura Barron-Lopez, has been covering the latest and joins us now.

So, Laura, let's start with the news on the legal front. First, there's a lot of ongoing litigation when it comes to refugee admissions and to foreign aid funding. What did we hear from federal judges on those fronts today?

Laura Barron-Lopez:

There were three big actions by federal judges today.

So, when we break them down, first, a federal judge extended a block on the — Trump's federal funding freeze. Another judge ordered the release of foreign aid payments by Wednesday at midnight. And then a third federal judge in Seattle blocked Trump's blanket suspension of refugee admissions.

Now, that indefinite pause on admissions, as well as the foreign aid freeze, impacted thousands of refugees, Amna, who were — some of whom were already vetted to come to the United States. And we don't know if the administration is going to comply with that judge's order to reopen refugee admissions, because it's not clear that the White House has been complying with a number of these judges' orders, which was a pattern here in the hearings today.

Judges expressed a lot of frustration, including the one who said that they needed to stop blocking the blanket funding freeze. That judge said, the administration is saying one thing, while expressly doing another. And then, on the foreign aid order, the judge warned the administration to abide by their order ASAP.

And this is a two-week-old order now. The administration immediately appealed the judge's order today, Amna.

Amna Nawaz:

And what about Elon Musk and his DOGE team's efforts to slash the federal work force? It's been, fair to say, a confusing few days for federal workers.

It looks like Elon Musk and some administration officials are at odds. Where do things stand right now?

Laura Barron-Lopez:

To get a sense of the chaos and the conflicting message, we have a timeline here.

So, first, Elon Musk posted and the OPM e-mail went out on Saturday, essentially saying, respond to this e-mail or you will be terminated. Then some agency head said, comply. Others, like the FBI, State Department and DHS, said you can ignore it.

Then, President Trump said comply or risk being fired or semi-fired. And then, on Monday evening, Elon Musk again tweeted saying, which you highlighted earlier, that they had a second chance to comply or be terminated.

So, adding to the confusion of all of this, the H.R. — the Office of Personnel Management, which is the government's H.R., also put out conflicting messages, first telling people to comply, to not — that they didn't have to comply, that it was voluntary, then saying they had to.

And within the last hour, President Donald Trump added to the confusion.

Donald Trump, President of the United States: Well, it's somewhat voluntary. But it's also, if you don't answer, I guess you get fired.

(Crosstalk)

Donald Trump:

What it really is, is — what it is, is, do people exist? We have this massive government with millions of people, and nobody knows who's working for the government who's not.

Laura Barron-Lopez:

It's not true, Amna, that no one knows who's working for the government. That data is also at the fingertips of the president's advisers and workers.

But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that, so far, she claimed that one million workers have participated in that response of what they accomplished last week.

Amna Nawaz:

So Elon Musk has insisted this is a transparent effort. White House officials echo that, but it's not been easy to get some basic questions answered about the team. You tried at the White House briefing today. How did that go?

Laura Barron-Lopez:

So, what we know about DOGE and Elon Musk's team is through our own reporting, as well as other investigative reporters. The White House has dodged or not answered many questions about the structure of DOGE even when federal judges have asked. And that's what I pressed Karoline Leavitt today.

I wanted to ask about a federal judge yesterday was saying that they didn't know who the DOGE administrator was and was asking the lawyer for the administration who it was, and the lawyer responded: "I don't know the answer."

Can you tell us who the administrator of DOGE is?

Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary:

Again, I have been asked and answered this question. Elon Musk is overseeing DOGE. There are career officials…

Laura Barron-Lopez:

… (off-mike) administrator.

Karoline Leavitt:

There are — no, Elon Musk is a special government employee, which I have also been asked and have answered that question as well. There are career officials at DOGE. There are political appointees at DOGE. I'm not going to reveal the name of that individual from this podium.

I'm happy to follow up and provide that to you. But we have been incredibly transparent about the way the DOGE is working.

Laura Barron-Lopez:

So, back and forth there, really pressing the press secretary about who is in charge of DOGE.

Then, a few hours later, a White House official told me that Amy Gleason is the acting DOGE administrator. Gleason worked in the first administration for the U.S. Digital Service, carried over a little bit into the Biden administration.

But it appears, based on multiple reports, including from The New York Times, that Amy Gleason may very well be on vacation right now, Amna.

Amna Nawaz:

White House correspondent Laura Barron-Lopez.

Laura, thank you.

Laura Barron-Lopez:

Thank you.