In a significant protest against government efficiency efforts led by Elon Musk, 21 civil service employees resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Tuesday. The group, which included engineers, data scientists, and product managers, expressed concerns over what they described as a systematic effort to “dismantle critical public services.”
In a joint resignation letter obtained by the Associated Press, the employees, who had previously served in the United States Digital Service (USDS), outlined their disillusionment. The staff members emphasized that their decision to leave stemmed from the belief that continuing to work under the current administration would compromise their duty to the American people and the Constitution.
The resignation is seen as a setback for President Donald Trump’s and Musk’s shared goal of streamlining government functions through technological and structural changes. Critics argue these efforts could undermine essential public services, with legal challenges already mounting against the initiative.
The departing employees, many with backgrounds at tech giants like Google and Amazon, had entered public service during the Obama administration, motivated by a desire to modernize government systems. However, they cited a shift in their work environment after Trump appointed Musk to lead government efficiency reforms. According to the resignation letter, anonymous interviewers—unfamiliar with the intricacies of government systems—subjected employees to politically charged questioning, raising security concerns.
The resignations signal growing tensions within the government over the balance between innovation and the preservation of critical public services.
Sources: AP, DOGE Resignation Letter
