DoGE’s Office Space efforts delayed by some

The federal government is not becoming Office Space — yet.

The Elon Musk-led effort to require all federal government employees to report back with what exactly they do here was met with pushback from throughout the administration, including from several of President Trump’s new appointees.

The Office of Personnel Management’s email, with the subject line, “What did you do last week?” mirrors how Musk has operated companies he owns, like Twitter/X, where he asked similar questions.

OPM’s moves came after Trump issued an ultimatum on Truth Social for Musk to double-down on his aggressiveness with the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE), which many thought might not be possible. For some, the measures are a bridge too far.

Both Tulsi Gabbard, the new director of national intelligence and Kash Patel, the new FBI director, instructed their employees to ignore the email due to concerns about sharing national security information. “Given the inherently sensitive and classified nature of our work, [intelligence community] employees should not respond to the OPM email,” Gabbard wrote.

Musk, for his part, wrote on X, “Those who do not take this email seriously will soon be furthering their career elsewhere.”

Trump continues to remain supportive of Musk and his efforts to slash government spending, posting a SpongeBob SquarePants meme where the yellow undersea dweller inspects a list his best friend Patrick wrote about what he accomplished — although it’s been altered for the Trump era.

“Cried about Trump,” it reads. “Cried about Elon… cried about Trump and Elon some more.”

Despite the outcry from Democrats and from some Republicans about the DoGE efforts, Musk sounds eager to hold their feet to the fire. “Maybe FAFO can be the enforcement arm of DoGE,” he tweeted.

-Matthew Foldi

On our radar

JOY IS GONE Trump celebrated the firing of MSNBC’s Joy Reid, saying that the network should pay “vast sums of money for the damage they’ve done to our country” and that “fake news is an unpardonable sin!”

FLY EAGLES FLY Rumors are spreading that the Philadelphia Eagles may turn down an invitation to visit the White House after their Super Bowl win; however, no official invitation has been sent.

POPE HOPE Pope Francis thanks the world for its messages and prayers as he continues to fight double pneumonia and early signs of kidney failure.

Monsieur Macron goes to Washington

As European nations met in Kyiv for the third anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, President Trump met with French president Emmanuel Macron at the White House.

Macron joined Trump in a virtual meeting with members of the G7 Summit this morning to discuss updates and plans regarding what may be the end of the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump said via Truth Social that he discussed the critical minerals and rare earth elements deal in the meeting, saying the deal will help repay the aid sent to Ukraine with the added benefit of “helping Ukraine’s economy grow as this brutal and savage war comes to an end.” Trump said he hopes to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky this week or next and is arranging to sit down with Russian president Vladimir Putin soon.

The two presidents shared a handshake that bordered on passive-aggressive before their meeting and had a short tug-of-war during their press Q&A, symbolizing their struggle over different perspectives on handling the conflict. Macron said they “share the same objective of building this lasting peace.”

On the other side of the world, the leaders of the EU, UK and Canada were discussing Europe’s involvement in de-escalation and a postwar Ukraine with Zelensky. The Ukrainian president said, “Putin will not give us peace or give it to us in exchange for something; we have to win this through strength, wisdom and unity.”

Trump seems to disagree as he moves forward with negotiations, saying that “everything is on the table” but that regaining much of the Ukrainian land is “not an easy thing to do.” He re-emphasized that his main goal is to end the death on both sides of the conflict.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer, who is scheduled to visit with Trump later this week, said that Trump’s polarizing remarks have created an opportunity for discussion, but advised that “any settlement must be based on a sovereign Ukraine backed up with strong security guarantees.”

Trump said in a combined press conference with Macron that, “Europe must take that central role in assuring long-term security in Ukraine.” He responded in today’s Q&A that Putin has agreed to accept European troops in Ukraine as peacemakers.

–Derek VanBuskirk

Newsom requests wildfire aid

California governor Gavin Newsom has formally requested nearly $40 billion in federal aid to support recovery efforts following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. In a letter sent Friday to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Representatives Tom Cole and Rosa DeLauro — the top Republican and Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee — Newsom urged Congress to approve funding to help rebuild affected communities.

“Los Angeles is one of the most economically productive places in the world, but it can only rebound and flourish with federal support as it recovers from this unprecedented disaster,” Newsom wrote in the fourteen-page letter. “California’s success is America’s success,” he added, warning that the estimated $250 billion in losses could make the fires the costliest natural disaster in US history.

The request includes $9.9 billion from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for victim assistance grants, $16.8 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to rebuild infrastructure and $2 billion from the IRS for low-income housing tax credits.

“Make no mistake, Los Angeles will use this money wisely,” Newsom added, commending both the presidential administration and Congress. “California will ensure these funds directly support individuals, communities, property owners and businesses affected by this disaster.”

–Juan P. Villasmil