The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, is facing internal turmoil after 21 civil service employees resigned in protest on Tuesday. The employees, who originally worked for the United States Digital Service (USDS), claimed they were pressured into assisting DOGE’s controversial cost-cutting efforts.
In their collective resignation letter, the staffers accused DOGE of trying to “dismantle critical public services” and stated they could no longer honor their commitment to serving the American people under the Trump administration’s directives.
Despite the public backlash, both the White House and Elon Musk dismissed the resignations, showing no concern over the loss of skilled federal employees.
Why Did These Employees Resign?
The 21 resigning staffers came from the US Digital Service (USDS), which was originally created under President Barack Obama to modernize government technology after the failed launch of Healthcare.gov.
What Led to Their Resignation?
- They were unexpectedly reassigned to DOGE duties, despite working for USDS.
- They felt that Musk and DOGE were more focused on ideological goals than efficiency.
- They claimed inexperienced, politically motivated hires were put in charge of major government tech projects.
- 40 additional tech employees were laid off earlier this month, which they say put government services at risk.
- They feared that DOGE’s data access policies could compromise Americans’ private information.
One-Third of USDS Staff Quit: In total, one-third of the remaining USDS staff resigned, refusing to continue working under DOGE.
Their Warning: They stated that DOGE’s workforce cuts endanger millions of Americans who rely on Social Security, veterans’ services, tax filing, healthcare, and disaster relief.
White House and Musk Respond: “See Ya!”
The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the resignations, claiming Trump would not be deterred by lawsuits or employee pushback.
“Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years,” Leavitt said.
Meanwhile, Musk dismissed the news as “fake”, posting on X:
“These were Dem political holdovers who would have been fired had they not resigned.”
Musk and the White House offered no response to concerns about government technology security or the loss of experienced staff.
The Alleged “Interrogation” of Government Workers
In their resignation letter, former employees described a disturbing process after Trump’s inauguration:
- They were interviewed by unidentified White House visitors about their political views and loyalty to Trump.
- Some interviewers refused to identify themselves or provide job titles.
- The staffers said many of the interviewers had no technical expertise and were young Musk supporters rather than experienced professionals.
- Employees were asked to criticize or turn on their colleagues in what they called a “security risk”.
Their concerns mirror larger fears that DOGE is operating without proper oversight, potentially endangering government systems and sensitive personal data.
DOGE’s Mass Layoffs and The Case of Jonathan Kamens
Earlier this month, DOGE fired 40 additional employees, including only one engineer—Jonathan Kamens.
Kamens Speaks Out:
- He claims he was fired for criticizing Musk in private chats and publicly endorsing Kamala Harris on his blog.
- He fears Musk will misuse government data, warning:
“Any data Musk gains access to will be used for purposes that are inappropriate and harmful to Americans.”
DOGE’s Layoffs So Far
- 40 tech employees let go earlier this month.
- 21 resigned in protest on Tuesday.
- Thousands of federal jobs eliminated under DOGE’s cost-cutting program.
