If an executive branch official feels that a presidential order or directive is illegal or in other ways objectionable, his proper recourse of action is to refuse to follow the order - and to submit his resignation.
It's been done before. Saturday Night Massacre
What's not proper is to refuse to follow the order and then to continue on as if following presidential orders wasn't part of your job.
bttt
Thank you.
I’ve been bringing up references to the Saturday Night Massacre for the last few days also. If Trump were to re-enact his own SNM, would not the dems and the press howl with delight over that?
Of course they would.
It is essential to remember that Elliot Richardson did not think Nixon’s firing of Cox was illegal. His reason for resigning was that he had promised in his confirmation hearings not to carry out that order of it was given.