Washington, D.C. – A significant wave of resignations has hit Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with nearly one-third of its staff stepping down in protest. The departing employees cited concerns over policy directives that they claim undermine essential government services and put national interests at risk.
In a resignation letter addressed to White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, 21 DOGE employees expressed their unwillingness to comply with what they described as politically motivated changes. “We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations. However, it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments,” the letter stated.
The resignations come just weeks after DOGE was established, replacing the United States Digital Service (USDS) following President Donald Trump’s return to office on January 20. Under Musk’s influence, the department was restructured with an emphasis on reducing federal staffing and expenditures.
Musk’s Expanding Role in Government
Although Musk does not hold a formal government position, he serves as a senior advisor to President Trump and is classified as a “special government employee.” His growing influence over federal operations has drawn both praise and criticism. While supporters view his cost-cutting initiatives as a necessary reform, opponents argue that his approach threatens critical public services.
Musk dismissed the resignations, referring to the employees as “political holdovers” who had resisted returning to office in compliance with Trump’s directives. “They would have been fired had they not resigned,” Musk stated on X, the social media platform he owns.
Concerns Over Government Services and Data Security
The resigning employees allege that the transition to DOGE has been chaotic, with staff being subjected to abrupt interviews conducted by unidentified individuals within the White House. These interviews reportedly included inquiries about political loyalty and technical expertise.
Tensions escalated further on February 14, when approximately one-third of the former USDS workforce was abruptly terminated via anonymous emails. The dismissed employees had been responsible for modernizing government platforms, including Social Security, veterans' services, tax filing systems, healthcare databases, and disaster relief networks.
“Their removal endangers millions of Americans who rely on these services every day. The sudden loss of their technology expertise makes critical systems and Americans’ data less safe,” the resignation letter warned.
Plans for Mass Federal Layoffs
The resignations coincide with Musk’s initiative to streamline federal staffing. Reports indicate that DOGE engineers are developing software designed to facilitate mass terminations of government employees. The project aims to expedite the reduction-in-force process, potentially targeting workers with strong civil service protections.
Earlier this week, a mass email was distributed to approximately two million federal employees, instructing them to justify their positions or risk termination. While many government agencies have advised staff to ignore the directive, concerns persist about potential large-scale layoffs.
The Department of Government Efficiency remains under scrutiny as observers question the long-term impact of Musk’s leadership on federal workforce stability and public service accessibility. The White House has yet to release an official statement addressing the resignations or the ongoing restructuring efforts within DOGE.
