Over 20 US Fed Staffers Resign Instead Of Helping DOGE. Here's How Elon Musk Reacted

The mass exodus of engineers, data scientists, designers, and product managers deals a temporary blow to the Trump administration's broader initiative to overhaul the federal workforce.

Concerns have been raised over the qualifications of those appointed to replace departing staff.

Source : X/@delinthecity_

A wave of resignations hit the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Tuesday, as 21 US Federal technology staffers stepped down, citing ethical concerns over their roles under billionaire Elon Musk's leadership, reported Associated Press (AP). The employees, who previously worked at the United States Digital Service (USDS), expressed their unwillingness to contribute to what they described as the "dismantling of critical public services."

"We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations," the group stated in their resignation letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press. "However, it has become clear that we can no longer honour those commitments."

The mass exodus of engineers, data scientists, designers, and product managers deals a temporary blow to the Trump administration's broader initiative to overhaul the federal workforce. Musk, a close adviser to President Donald Trump, has been spearheading a radical downsizing effort that has faced mounting legal challenges and opposition from career civil servants.

Concerns have been raised over the qualifications of those appointed to replace departing staff. The resigning employees claimed that many of Musk’s new hires lacked the necessary technical expertise and were instead political loyalists with limited knowledge of government technology.

How Did The White House React?

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the resignations, stating, "Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years. President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on the promises he made to make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers."

How Did Musk React?

Musk himself weighed in on social media, calling the reports "fake news" and alleging that the departing employees were "Dem political holdovers" who "would have been fired had they not resigned."

More fake news from Associated Propaganda.

These were Dem political holdovers who refused to return to the office.

They would have been fired had they not resigned.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 25, 2025

The USDS, established under former President Barack Obama to modernise digital government services, was initially tasked with addressing issues such as the botched launch of Healthcare.gov. The resigning staffers, many of whom previously held senior roles at major tech firms like Google and Amazon, joined the federal workforce out of a commitment to public service.

However, they claim that Musk’s oversight has fundamentally changed their work environment. Following Trump’s inauguration, they were subjected to a series of secretive interviews conducted by unidentified individuals with White House visitor badges. The employees alleged that many of these interviewers had minimal technical knowledge, made politically charged statements, and seemed more interested in ideological loyalty than government modernisation.

"Several of these interviewers refused to identify themselves, asked questions about political loyalty, attempted to pit colleagues against each other, and demonstrated limited technical ability," the staffers wrote in their resignation letter. "This process created significant security risks."

Earlier in February, nearly 40 employees were laid off from the department, a move the former staffers claim has severely weakened the federal government’s ability to manage critical digital infrastructure.

"These highly skilled civil servants were working to modernise Social Security, veterans’ services, tax filing, health care, disaster relief, student aid, and other critical services," the resignation letter stated. "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."

As of Tuesday, roughly a third of the 65 remaining USDS employees resigned rather than continue working under DOGE.

"We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardise Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services," the resigning staffers stated. "We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimise DOGE’s actions."

The restructuring of the federal digital workforce under Musk has deviated from initial campaign promises. Originally framed as a non-governmental advisory body, DOGE has evolved into a direct force within the administration, raising concerns among government officials and watchdog groups. Musk himself hinted at the extent of these changes in a social media post, declaring, "Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!"

As legal battles and internal dissent continue, the broader implications of Musk’s role in reshaping federal operations remain uncertain.