body: So it is now a matter of public record that [the President plans to defy all House subpoenas](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/us/politics/donald-trump-subpoenas.html?module=inline).
  
  
  1. Do I correctly understand that Federal employees, notably including the Armed Forces, pledge their duty first to the Constitution of the United States and only secondarily to carry out legal orders? And that they have no legal obligation to execute an illegal order? What process allows a subordinate to defy an illegal order if a superior gives the order? What legal protection does the subordinate have?
  2. Suppose the Congress holds someone in contempt. The Congress, as I understand it, goes to a court to enforce the contempt charge. The court turns to Federal law enforcement to bring action. What if the President directs Federal law enforcement to ignore the court order? What if law enforcement complies with the President?
  3. Suppose Congress orders fines. What is to be done if no one will enforce the fines?
  4. Same scenario as 1 but this time it’s impeachment and conviction: the President defies any action to remove him.
  5. What if the President simply barricades himself in the White House and orders security and military personnel to protect him? Is there a protocol in the U.S. military hierarchy to deal with this scenario?
  6. What should common citizens do if any of these scenarios play out?
  
  
  
title: What if the President defies Congress and the courts?