Calley Means, a former adviser to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently alleged widespread internal sabotage within President Donald Trump's administration. Speaking on the "Joe Rogan Experience" in an episode released Friday, Means claimed that federal bureaucrats are actively working to undermine the presidency from the inside. He specifically cited the circulation of a "Simple Sabotage Field Manual," a guide originally developed by the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, among government employees.
"They were sending around a memo — a CIA manual — about how to be a bad bureaucrat and subvert an institution from within." Calley Means, Former Adviser to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The "Simple Sabotage Field Manual," a precursor to modern intelligence tactics, was designed to guide individuals in enemy-held territory on how to disrupt operations through seemingly innocuous acts. Means stated that this manual, which advises tactics such as penalizing efficient workers, promoting unqualified individuals, and funneling tasks into large, inefficient committees, is now being used by career officials within the current federal workforce. Means asserted, "They were sending around a memo — a CIA manual — about how to be a bad bureaucrat and subvert an institution from within." He explicitly attributed this behavior to officials who he claimed "hate President Trump."
Means, who resigned from the White House on October 22, previously served as an adviser to Secretary Kennedy, whose department, Health and Human Services, he estimated employs 90,000 individuals. He painted a stark picture of the environment surrounding his former boss, stating, "He’s [Kennedy] got a 90,000-person agency. He’s surrounded by demons who want him out and want him destroyed." Means extended this observation to the broader federal government, noting that President Trump oversees a workforce of approximately two million people. When pressed by Rogan about whether President Trump's staff was "completely compromised," Means responded, "Yeah, for the most … especially the whole infrastructure."
The allegations suggest a deeply entrenched resistance within the federal bureaucracy that could impede the administration's policy objectives during its final two years. Means clarified that while he was not making excuses for anyone, the scale of the alleged internal opposition presented a significant challenge. He described the situation as "kind of crazy, right? Like, what the hell do I do? This is an unruly government and the president has orders of magnitude more than that."
Means contended that the alleged internal resistance has contributed to a slowdown in the aggressive implementation of policies President Trump campaigned on, many of which he described as "widely popular." He suggested that a "severe consolidation of power" by career officials, capitalizing on the President's demanding schedule, has been used to delay various initiatives. Despite these challenges, Means expressed confidence in President Trump's ability to address the situation. He stated, "But yes, he can make a change to his staff."
Means concluded by emphasizing President Trump's awareness of the individuals around him, suggesting the President knows who is loyal and committed to his agenda. "The president knows who the people are that are not going to sell him out to a foreign government. The president knows the people around him that will try to go hard to really drive some compelling change … to have an impact on the country he wants to have." The Daily Caller News Foundation previously reported that the 2026 midterm elections saw Democrats gain control of both chambers of Congress. An NBC News exit poll from those elections indicated that 43 percent of respondents cited rebuking President Trump's performance as a reason for their vote, providing a backdrop to discussions about administrative effectiveness and internal dynamics. The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Means' allegations.
