Twenty-one career employees resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency, stating that they will not support or legitimize DOGE’s actions, according to a letter sent to the White House chief of staff Susie Wiles on Tuesday.
The civil service employees, part of the United States Digital Service, expressed their refusal to compromise government systems, risk citizens’ data, or dismantle essential public services. They emphasized their oath to serve the American people and uphold the Constitution across different administrations.
In response to the Associated Press report on their resignation, Elon Musk dismissed it as fake news, attributing their departure to political reasons and remote work preferences.
Originally established in 2014 to enhance federal digital services, the USDS underwent a shift in focus under Musk’s leadership towards cost-cutting and efficiency assessments within government agencies.
The employees pointed to various incidents leading to their resignation, notably the termination of a significant portion of DOGE’s workforce, impacting critical areas like Social Security, veterans’ services, tax filing, and healthcare.
Concerns were also raised about interviews at DOGE that allegedly probed political loyalties and fostered internal division among colleagues.
