President Donald Trump’s unapologetic approach to governance was on full display at Joint Base Andrews, where he bluntly characterized his actions as retaliatory, setting the tone for his administration. The weekend saw a flurry of disruptive moves, from tariffs and firings to clashes over sanctions and classified data breaches, leaving the civil service in turmoil. As chaos mounted, Washington insiders grappled with norm-breaking headlines and a lack of meaningful opposition from Republicans. Democrats, hampered by internal divisions, struggled to counter Trump’s aggressive agenda. Amidst the upheaval, Trump’s empowerment of Elon Musk to overhaul government operations drew scrutiny, with Musk’s swift dismantling of bureaucratic structures raising concerns about the erosion of institutional norms. The administration’s heavy-handed tactics, including loyalty tests and punitive measures against dissenting voices, signaled a disregard for professional expertise and a push to reshape the federal workforce in line with Trump’s values. The ongoing power struggle between Trump, Musk, and entrenched career officials at agencies like U.S. AID serves as a cautionary tale for the broader federal workforce, as the administration’s unchecked actions threaten to further undermine the traditional functions of government. As Trump and Musk continue to dismantle established systems with minimal resistance, the future of the federal government hangs in the balance, with potential repercussions for the entire bureaucratic landscape.