Tea and nickel on the agenda as Biden hosts Indonesian president

Biden’s Staff Signs Open Letter , Demanding Cease-Fire in Middle East. Over 400 Biden administration employees are demanding that the president pushes for "a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war," NBC News reports. Over 400 Biden administration employees are demanding that the president pushes for "a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war," NBC News reports. We represent a coalition of Biden-Harris administration political appointees and civil servants, positioned across the domestic and foreign policy spheres, working in federal agencies, departments, independent agencies and the White House, Via open letter signed by Biden administration staff. We call on President Biden to urgently demand a ceasefire; and to call for de-escalation of the current conflict by securing the immediate release of the Israeli hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians; the restoration of water, fuel, electricity and other basic services; and the passage of adequate humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip, Via open letter signed by Biden administration staff. We call on President Biden to urgently demand a ceasefire; and to call for de-escalation of the current conflict by securing the immediate release of the Israeli hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians; the restoration of water, fuel, electricity and other basic services; and the passage of adequate humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip, Via open letter signed by Biden administration staff. The open letter's signatories stem from over 30 federal departments and agencies. . The effort was led by two administration staff members who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation for opposing the administration's position. Signatories also reportedly remained anonymous because of the same concerns. . Every day, you’re going in to work for this administration, then you’re going to look at your phone, you’re going to see the suffering that you kind of feel like you’re causing … a lot of people are no longer comfortable being silent, no longer comfortable being complacent in a way, Biden administration staff members, to NBC News. NBC News reports that congressional staff has also asked Congress to demand a cease-fire because of "antisemitism, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian sentiment on the rise nationwide.". It’s unfortunate that we’re at this point. Having hundreds and thousands of people come together within this administration and within Congress and say we are calling for a cease-fire, something that’s so basic to just end human suffering, Biden administration staff members, to NBC News