Members of President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE's Cabinet rushed on Thursday to deny they were the "senior administration official" behind a New York Times op-ed bashing the president and describing widespread internal efforts to blunt his decisions.

More than a half-dozen high-ranking officials issued statements before noon distancing themselves from the op-ed, titled "I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration." By mid-afternoon, the list had grown to roughly 20 administration officials.

The author remained anonymous, prompting furious speculation over who penned the piece and forcing officials otherwise out of the spotlight to issue public denials.

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"The Vice President puts his name on his Op-Eds. The @nytimes should be ashamed and so should the person who wrote the false, illogical, and gutless op-ed," said Jarrod Agen, communications director for Vice President Pence.

"Our office is above such amateur acts," he added.

The Vice President puts his name on his Op-Eds. The @nytimes should be ashamed and so should the person who wrote the false, illogical, and gutless op-ed. Our office is above such amateur acts. — Jarrod Agen (@VPComDir) September 6, 2018

Internet sleuths zeroed in on the use of the word "lodestar" in the op-ed, highlighting multiple instances over the past few years in which the vice president has used the uncommon descriptor in his speeches.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Overnight Defense: House Democrats unveil stopgap spending measure to GOP opposition | Bill includes .6B for new subs | Trump issues Iran sanctions after world shrugs at US action at UN Navalny calls on Russia to return clothes he was wearing when he fell ill MORE issued a similarly sharp denial to reporters during a trip to India, blasting the Times for publishing the words of a "disgruntled, deceptive bad actor."

"It shouldn’t surprise anyone that The New York Times, a liberal newspaper that has attacked this administration relentlessly, chose to print such a piece," he said.

"And I’ll answer your other question directly, because I know someone will say, gosh, he didn’t answer the question," Pompeo added. "It’s not mine."

Pompeo suggested the individual behind the piece should leave their job if they're unwilling to follow through on Trump's agenda and accused the Times of taking part in an effort to "undermine" the administration.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about whether officials were encouraged to issue denials, or whether staffers were actively looking to determine the author's identity, but press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement ripping the media for its "wild obsession" with the identity of the author.

The search, she said, is "recklessly tarnishing the reputation of thousands of great Americans who proudly serve our country and work for President Trump." Sanders urged reporters to contact the Times's opinion desk instead of the White House, adding the Times's phone number to a tweeted statement.

For those of you asking for the identity of the anonymous coward: pic.twitter.com/RpWYPHa6To — Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) September 6, 2018

In the face of rampant speculation, a steady stream of denials came forth throughout Thursday morning into the afternoon.

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats Daniel (Dan) Ray CoatsFBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Former Intel chief had 'deep suspicions' that Putin 'had something on Trump': book MORE, who has had public differences with Trump over the severity of foreign efforts to interfere in U.S. elections, quashed speculation that he was behind the piece.

“From the beginning of our tenure, we have insisted that the entire [intelligence community] remain focused on our mission to provide the President and policymakers with the best intelligence possible," Coats said in a statement.

Pentagon spokesman Tom Crosson told The Hill that Defense Secretary James Mattis James Norman MattisBiden courts veterans amid fallout from Trump military controversies Trump says he wanted to take out Syria's Assad but Mattis opposed it Gary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November MORE did not write the op-ed.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenDHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections Democrats smell blood with new DHS whistleblower complaint MORE, who has reportedly endured harsh criticism from Trump during Cabinet meetings, also distanced herself from the op-ed through a spokesman.

"Secretary Nielsen is focused on leading the men & women of DHS and protecting the homeland — not writing anonymous & false opinion pieces for the New York Times," Tyler Houlton, press secretary for the the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement. "These types of political attacks are beneath the Secretary & the Department's mission."

A spokesman for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of emergency loans | House seeks to salvage vote on spending bill | Economists tell lawmakers: Kill the virus to heal the economy Economists spanning spectrum say recovery depends on containing virus Powell, Mnuchin stress limits of current emergency lending programs MORE called it "laughable" that Mnuchin would write the op-ed.

"He feels it was irresponsible for @nytimes to print this anonymous piece. Now, dignified public servants are forced to deny being the source," Tony Sayegh Jr. tweeted.

.@stevenmnuchin1 is honored to serve @POTUS & the American people. He feels it was irresponsible for @nytimes to print this anonymous piece. Now, dignified public servants are forced to deny being the source. It is laughable to think this could come from the Secretary. — Tony Sayegh Jr. (@tony4ny) September 6, 2018

A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice referred The Hill to Sanders's statement on Thursday.

Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta Alex Alexander AcostaFederal litigator files complaint alleging Labor secretary abused his authority Appeals court to review legality of Epstein plea deal Appeals court finds prosecutors' secret plea agreement with Epstein didn't break law MORE, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry Rick PerryEnergy secretary questions consensus that humans cause climate change OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push resolution to battle climate change, sluggish economy and racial injustice | Senators reach compromise on greenhouse gas amendment stalling energy bill | Trump courts Florida voters with offshore drilling moratorium OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump signs major conservation bill into law | Senate votes to confirm Energy's No. 2 official | Trump Jr. expresses opposition to Pebble Mine project MORE, Veterans' Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, first lady Melania Trump Melania TrumpMelania Trump: Ginsburg's 'spirit will live on in all she has inspired' The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - You might want to download TikTok now Warning label added to Trump tweet over potential mail-in voting disinformation MORE and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwaySpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report George and Kellyanne Conway honor Ginsburg Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE were among those who denied they were behind the op-ed as the day progressed.

The op-ed provides few hints as to the author's identity, and a Times opinion editor has said a "very small number of people" know the writer's identity. The Times's decision to grant the individual anonymity is uncommon and suggests they are a high-ranking official.

The author wrote that they are part of a "steady state" of administration officials who "thwart" Trump's worst inclinations. The op-ed was fiercely critical of the president, calling out his "amorality" and labeling his impulses "anti-democratic."

“We want the administration to succeed and think that many of its policies have already made America safer and more prosperous,” he wrote.

The author praised the “unsung heroes” inside the administration, explaining that the group has “gone to great lengths to keep bad decisions contained to the West Wing.”

“It may be cold comfort in this chaotic era, but Americans should know that there are adults in the room,” the author wrote. “We fully recognize what is happening. And we are trying to do what’s right even when Donald Trump won’t.”

--Updated at 2:06 p.m.