• The Trump administration’s rampage against democracy feels overwhelming to millions of average people, journalists who have to cover it, and those who work for the government itself. The latest: Trump shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development headquarters after “First Buddy” Elon Musk’s aides forcibly gained access to classified internal data (two security officials were put on leave for trying to stop them). Over the weekend, Musk also said that it’s time for USAID — which saves millions of lives around the world — to “die.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio was named acting administrator of USAID, an apparent effort to shrink the agency​ under the State Department. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) said he’ll block Trump’s nominees until he stops attacking USAID.

• But wait, there’s more! The Department of Government Efficiency, which isn’t an actual government agency and is run by the world’s richest man, gained access to Treasury Department systems. Musk vowed to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars worth of government loans after reviewing Treasury’s systems. Reminder: Musk isn’t an elected or confirmed official — he’s a private citizen whose college-aged cronies are taking over the government. How is this legal? “We don't have a fourth branch of government called “Elon Musk,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said during a rally today​. 

• When Trump took over in January, many Democrats and federal workers declared themselves exhausted, without the energy to stage the kind of vigorous resistance that characterized his first term. But his attacks are stiffening spines, and kindling resentment and determination: “They win if we give up,” a federal employee, whose wife also works in the government, told What A Day. “I understand the temptation to get out and not have to deal with this shit. But we can afford to stand up [and] stand our ground.”

• Since Trump took office, a Reddit page about the federal workforce has become one of the site’s most popular, serving as a hub of resistance and a resource for people to share information. “HOLD THE LINE, DON'T RESIGN,” a user wrote, urging others against quitting their jobs. “They’re desperate to see you, the dedicated civil servants, America's last vestige of hope against tyranny, resign and leave,” the user wrote. That post received over 11,000 upvotes in support. Another post told federal workers to call the police if people *cough* Musk *cough* tries to access government systems. A worker at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sent an email blast to all employees, criticizing the new acting chair: “I will not cower to bullying and intimidation.”

• More than 50 federal workers have reached out to What A Day to share their perspectives on what’s happened over the past week. Many admitted that there’s no organized “resistance” right now, and their colleagues seem more fearful than hopeful. Some federal workers are looking into obtaining “pro bono lawyers and are reaching out to members of Congress — Republicans!! — to push back,” an Education Department official texted. 

• “Everyone is pissed and demoralized and frustrated,” another employee told me. There’s a few small things they plan to do to push back: Get more information to the public (thank you, everyone!), slowing down their workflow, and testing how much they can resist certain assignments without getting in trouble. 

• For many, just keeping their jobs is the ultimate pushback against Trump. “Honestly at this point, showing up to work and getting anything accomplished is a form of resistance,” an NOAA employee texted. “A friend also joked with me that punctuation and decent grammar would be a form of resistance lol.” We all know Trump hates those things!

WHAT A SPONSOR