More than 20 civil service employees submitted their resignations on Tuesday from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, closely linked with a billionaire who previously advised Trump. The resigning staff expressed their discontent with using their technical expertise to “dismantle essential public services.”
In a resignation letter shared with The Associated Press, the 21 employees declared, “We have dedicated ourselves to serving the American public and honoring our constitutional responsibilities through various presidential administrations. Sadly, it has become clear that we can no longer meet these commitments.”
The departing employees raised concerns that many of those recruited by Musk to aid in reducing the size of the federal government during Trump’s presidency lacked the experience and qualifications for their assigned roles.
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This mass resignation, which includes engineers, data scientists, designers, and product managers, represents a significant challenge for Musk’s tech-driven initiative aimed at reorganizing the federal workforce. It comes at a time when there are numerous legal actions attempting to halt or reverse efforts to dismiss or pressure thousands of government employees.
In reaction, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt minimized the impact of the resignations.
“Anyone who thinks that protests, lawsuits, and legal tactics will sway President Trump has clearly been disconnected from reality for years,” Leavitt commented. “President Trump is determined to keep his promises to improve the efficiency and accountability of our federal government for the benefit of hardworking American taxpayers.”
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Musk took to his social media platform, X, to label the reports as “fake news,” suggesting that the resigning employees were simply “Democratic holdovers” who would have been let go if they hadn’t chosen to resign.
The staff members who resigned previously belonged to the United States Digital Service (USDS), indicating that their roles were being merged into the new DOGE initiative. The USDS was established under President Obama following the troubled rollout of Healthcare.gov, the platform utilized by millions to enroll in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
With impressive backgrounds in senior positions at major tech companies like Google and Amazon, these employees asserted in their resignation letter that their decision to join the government was driven by a commitment to the public good.
However, the empowerment of Musk by Trump disrupted this commitment. The day after Trump’s inauguration, the employees recalled being called for a series of interviews that hinted at the covert and disruptive operations of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Read More: Musk Faces Backlash After Challenging Federal Workers to Justify Their Jobs
According to the resigning employees, individuals sporting White House visitor badges, some of whom remained unnamed, questioned the nonpartisan staff about their qualifications and political beliefs. Many of these interviewers demonstrated a lack of technical knowledge, with several appearing motivated more by ideology and admiration for Musk than by the goal of improving government technology.
“Several of the interviewers were reluctant to disclose their identities, asked about political loyalty, attempted to create rifts among colleagues, and showed minimal technical competence,” the staffers noted in their letter. “This approach posed considerable security threats.”
Earlier this month, around 40 staff members were laid off, which the resigning employees described as a significant setback for the government’s ability to manage and safeguard its technological infrastructure.
“These highly skilled civil servants were involved in modernizing Social Security, veterans’ services, tax filing, healthcare, disaster relief, student aid, and other essential services,” their resignation letter noted. “Their exit jeopardizes millions of Americans who rely on these services daily. The sudden loss of their technical expertise compromises critical systems and the security of American citizens’ information.”
Approximately one-third of the remaining 65 employees at USDS resigned on the same day.
Read More: A Comprehensive List of Resignations from the Trump Administration in Protest
“We refuse to use our technical skills to undermine essential government systems, jeopardize sensitive American data, or dismantle critical public services,” they emphasized. “We will not apply our expertise to validate or execute the initiatives of DOGE.”
Musk’s assertive approach contrasts sharply with the original vision Trump laid out during his 2024 presidential campaign. Initially, DOGE, named after Musk’s favorite cryptocurrency meme, was described as a high-profile commission designed to function independently of government oversight.
However, following the election, Musk suggested a broader agenda, posting on X, “Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!” He has since embraced this role with enthusiasm.
Last week, he spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington, showcasing his initiatives and wielding a flashy chainsaw made in China, a gift from Argentinian President Javier Milei.
“This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” Musk passionately proclaimed from the stage.
Nevertheless, Musk has tried to retain technical talent, with the majority of layoffs in the Digital Service office affecting positions such as designers, product managers, human resources, and contracting personnel, according to insights from current and former employees.
Among the 40 individuals laid off recently, only one was an engineer—Jonathan Kamens, an outspoken staff member who claims he was dismissed for publicly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris on his blog and criticizing Musk in discussions with colleagues.
“I believe Elon Musk is acting inappropriately, and any data he accesses will likely be used in ways that could harm Americans,” Kamens stated.
Veterans of the U.S. Digital Service, who requested anonymity due to fears of retribution, reflected on their initial astonishment at how government operations functioned—a realization that Musk and his team are now facing. Many have since gained a greater appreciation for why certain governmental processes require more cautious handling than those in the private sector.
“The mantra ‘Move fast and break things’ might work for a business owner willing to take risks. However, when things go awry in government, the repercussions affect people who never consented to that risk,” explained Cordell Schachter, who served as the chief information officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation until last month.
Established over a decade ago, USDS aimed to enhance services for veterans and created a government-run platform to simplify tax filing, eliminating the need for third-party services like TurboTax. It also developed systems intended to improve the federal government’s technology procurement processes.
The service has encountered its share of bureaucratic obstacles and conflicts with agency leaders who resented outsiders meddling in their operations. The authority of USDS across the government was reinforced by its backing from the White House and its foundational mission to improve services for the American people.
Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is among three administration officials facing a lawsuit from The Associated Press regarding issues related to the first and fifth amendments. The AP claims these officials are retaliating against the agency for its editorial choices, while the White House asserts that the AP is not complying with an executive order requiring the Gulf of Mexico to be referred to as the Gulf of America.
Rodrique Ngowi, a video journalist for the Associated Press, contributed to this report from Boston.
