A significant number of employees at Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have resigned in protest, refusing to implement policy changes they believe could endanger the nation.
In a letter to White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, 21 DOGE staff members stated that their ability to serve the American people and uphold the Constitution had been compromised, making it impossible for them to continue in their roles.
The resigning employees, originally part of the United States Digital Service (USDS), had been working on key government projects before the department was restructured in January under President Donald Trump’s administration, with Musk assuming a major role in its operations.
Although Musk is not officially DOGE’s administrator, he has played a central role in shaping its direction, advocating for federal staffing and budget cuts. As a “special government employee” and “senior adviser to the president,” he wields significant influence despite lacking formal decision-making authority.
Musk downplayed the resignations, dismissing the departing workers as political holdovers who resisted returning to the office, calling them unfit for their positions.
The former employees described a chaotic transition process beginning in January, including interviews led by individuals with questionable technical qualifications. Tensions escalated on February 14, when a third of USDS staff were abruptly terminated via an anonymous email.
Many of those dismissed had been working on crucial government services, including Social Security, veterans’ services, tax filing, healthcare, and disaster relief. In their letter, the resigning staff warned that the loss of these experts could jeopardize critical systems and compromise national data security.
Founded in 2014 under the Obama administration, USDS was designed to enhance government digital services.
However, under Musk’s leadership, DOGE has shifted its focus toward reducing government staffing. Reports indicate that its engineers are developing software aimed at expediting the dismissal of federal employees, particularly those with strong civil service protections.
The resignations come amid wider concerns following an email sent to two million federal employees, instructing them to justify their roles or face potential termination. Several government agencies have since advised their staff to disregard the DOGE-inspired directive.
