Employees in the State Department are attempting to rally against the new executive order issued by President Donald Trump, which halts the entry of immigrants and refugees from several countries. But the White House is not impressed with the move, telling them to do their jobs or resign.
In a memo, circulated in the Foreign Office, the diplomats claim that the executive order is not only unnecessary but will also be counterproductive by alienating allies of the US in the Muslim world, as well as potentially hurting American businesses. This is according to a draft copy given to POLITICO. Even if the memo is never formally submitted it nonetheless demonstrates a revolt from inside the bureaucracy of the US government before the confirmation of Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, as Secretary of State.
The draft dissent memo insists that the ban will be a threat to the US economy and cause a fall in goodwill toward America. But, Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, dismissed the effort, noting that career bureaucrats who have a problem with the new regime should either get used to it or hand in their resignations.
The first reports about the circulation of the memo came from ABC, which claimed dozens of employees in the State Department had put it together. The order, signed by Trump on Friday, included a temporary ban on immigrants from seven countries, the pausing of all resettlement of refugees, and a complete ban on refugees from Syria.