The decision came as a surprise — with the AP widely expected by the White House press corps to be favored to win the initial ruling in the standoff triggered by the organization’s refusal to change its style guide to identify the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” after Trump changed the official US name.

The Trump administration on Monday told federal agencies they don't have to direct workers to comply with Elon Musk's request for information about their activities at work -- and that doing so is voluntary, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

President Donald Trump defended Elon Musk's email demand to federal employees, telling them to explain their recent accomplishments or risk getting fired, even as government agency officials were told that compliance with Musk's edict was voluntary.