A significant number of employees at the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have resigned en masse, citing concerns over the department’s direction under the leadership of billionaire Elon Musk.
In a joint resignation letter addressed to DOGE leadership and obtained by multiple media outlets, the 21 departing employees accused the agency of pursuing ideological objectives that could undermine government integrity.
“We took an oath to serve the American people and uphold the Constitution, regardless of political transitions,” the letter stated. “It has become clear that we can no longer fulfill that duty.”
The resigning staff, including engineers, data scientists, and product managers from leading tech firms like Google and Amazon, expressed their unwillingness to support DOGE’s agenda.
“We refuse to use our expertise to weaken essential government systems, compromise sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,” they wrote. “We will not be complicit in legitimizing DOGE’s actions.”
Their departures mark the latest fallout from President Donald Trump’s aggressive efforts to restructure the federal workforce. Following his re-election, Trump appointed Musk to lead DOGE, a newly established entity with a vague mandate.
Initially, DOGE’s role remained unclear, drawing scrutiny over whether it would function as a government body or an external advisory panel. However, on his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order transforming the existing United States Digital Service (USDS) into DOGE.
USDS, founded in 2014 under President Barack Obama, aimed to modernize government technology, especially after the troubled rollout of a federal health insurance portal. Many of the resigning employees were originally part of this service before its rebranding.
Their resignation letter also raised concerns over staff reductions and reports of political screening, with White House visitors allegedly questioning employees on their views and job roles.
Earlier this month, DOGE laid off approximately 40 employees, leaving only 65 remaining. A third of them have now resigned, warning that these cuts could jeopardize essential services such as Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and healthcare.
“Their removal endangers millions of Americans who rely on these services daily,” the letter cautioned. “Losing their expertise makes critical systems and sensitive data more vulnerable.”
Source: Al Jazeera
BDST: 0910 HRS, FEB 26, 2025
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