21 Civil Employees Resign from Musk’s Government Efficiency Department
TL/DR –
More than 20 civil service employees, previously working at senior roles in tech companies such as Google and Amazon, have resigned from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration. The employees, including engineers, data scientists, and product managers, objected to the ideologically driven and technically limited nature of the efforts to decrease the size of the federal government. Their decision comes as a reaction to mass layoffs and perceived threats to public services such as Social Security, veterans’ services, tax filing, health care, disaster relief, and student aid.
Mass Resignations in Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency
WASHINGTON (AP) – In a major setback, over 20 employees resigned from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Tuesday, stating they refuse to use their expertise to “dismantle critical public services.”
“Our oath to serve the American public and uphold the Constitution cannot be fulfilled under the current circumstances,” the 21 staffers stated in their collective resignation letter.
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The resignation letter warned that many of those enlisted by Musk lack the required skills or experience for the daunting task of downsizing the federal government, under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The fallout from the mass resignation of engineers, data scientists, and product managers is a temporary hitch for Musk’s tech-driven purge of the federal workforce, amid legal attempts to halt, stop, or reverse their efforts.
The White House remained silent when asked for a comment on the situation.
The resigning employees, formerly known as the United States Digital Service (USDS), was established during President Obama’s tenure after the challenging rollout of Healthcare.gov, a portal used by millions for insurance plans.
Former senior tech company employees at Google and Amazon, they joined government service driven by a sense of duty.
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They recall being quizzed about qualifications and politics by nameless individuals, who demonstrated limited technical understanding, suggesting a preference for Musk rather than improving government technology.
“The lack of identification, the focus on political loyalty, and the apparent limited technical understanding pose significant security risks,” the resigned staffers stated in their letter.
They also highlighted the devastating impact of recent layoffs on the government’s ability to manage its technology footprint, endangering millions who rely on crucial public services.
Approximately a third of the remaining 65 staffers resigned Tuesday.
“We refuse to jeopardize core systems, Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle public services by lending our expertise,” they insisted.
Musk’s approach differs from what Trump outlined during the 2024 presidential campaign. DOGE, a tribute to Musk’s favorite cryptocurrency meme coin, was initially envisioned as an external commission.
Musk has since hinted at more aggressive measures, posting “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!” on his social media site, X.
Despite the upheaval, Musk has tried to retain technical talent, focusing layoffs on roles like designers, product managers, and HR staff, according to insider sources.
Jonathan Kamens, one of the 40 let go earlier this month, believes he was fired for publicly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, and being critical of Musk.
Former USDS employees, who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisals, recalled feeling shocked at how government processes worked, but with time, gained respect for the careful treatment required in government compared to the private sector.
Despite bureaucracy fights and turf wars, the USDS has been effective in improving services to the American people, acting on behalf of the White House.
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