Contemplate This from NPR : NPR

President Donald Trump cranes his head to pay attention throughout a cupboard assembly on the White Home in February. Additionally pictured, L-R, are Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Inside Doug Burgum, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

Jim Watson/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

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Jim Watson/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

President Donald Trump cranes his head to pay attention throughout a cupboard assembly on the White Home in February. Additionally pictured, L-R, are Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Inside Doug Burgum, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

Jim Watson/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

Whether or not a “chainsaw,” per Elon Musk, or “scalpel,” as President Trump has stated — the Trump administration is making deep cuts to the federal authorities inside its first 100 days.

And Trump has appointed private allies with little expertise in authorities to key cupboard positions.

For the civil servants working to enact the missions of those authorities businesses, that is usually meant chaos and dysfunction.

NPR correspondents Tom Bowman, Michele Kelemen and Selena Simmons-Duffin recap what they’re listening to from federal employees on the Departments of Protection, State, and Well being and Human Providers.

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This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Janse and Connor Donevan, with reporting from Yuki Noguchi. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon. Our govt producer is Sami Yenigun.