Trump administration faces 'growing wave' of dissent among federal workers

While Donald Trump has been president for less than two weeks, his administration has already faced dissent within multiple government organizations.

Chris Lu, Obama's deputy secretary of labor, described the mood and activity to The Hill, commenting, "I don't recall any kind of dissent like this happening either in a Democratic or Republican administration — this is clearly unusual."

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As compared to protests by the general public, the Washington Post describes it as, "less visible and potentially more troublesome to the administration: a growing wave of opposition from the federal workers charged with implementing any new president's agenda."

Among those expressing their angst are employees of the State Department.

According to the New York Times, shortly after Trump signed his immigration order temporarily banning refugees and others from seven predominantly Muslim countries, the department began circulating a letter of dissent.

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In only days, it had reportedly gathered hundreds of signatures.

Further exemplifying the animosity that seemingly exists between Trump and some government employees was the president's Monday firing of acting Attorney General Sally Yates.

Earlier that day, she had ordered the Department of Justice lawyers not to defend the controversial order.

The White House has reacted to the civil servants' pushback sternly.

During a recent press conference, press secretary Sean Spicer commented on the State Department dissenters, noting, they can "either get with the program or they can go."

Said Lu of the administration's tactics, "It's not helpful for the president or his spokespeople to be attacking them. I don't think this will chill them. I think this is going to embolden career civil servants."