More than 20 civil service employees took a stand Tuesday, walking away from their positions at Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in protest. The tech experts, engineers, and data scientists made it clear—they won’t be part of dismantling essential public services.
In a joint resignation letter, obtained by The Associated Press, the group didn’t hold back:
“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.”
This marks a major disruption in Musk’s effort to slash the federal workforce under Donald Trump’s administration. The resignation comes at a time when court battles and public outcry are mounting against the administration’s push for government downsizing.
The Real Reason Behind the Mass Exodus
It’s not just about quitting a job—it’s about standing on principle. The ex-employees made it clear: they refuse to use their skills to weaken public infrastructure.
“Many of those enlisted by Musk to help him slash the size of the federal government are political ideologues who lack the necessary skills or experience for the task ahead,” the group stated.
Translation? The tech pros aren’t trying to prop up a system that prioritizes politics over expertise.
This latest wave of resignations adds fuel to the fire for critics who argue Musk’s DOGE project is less about efficiency and more about stripping public resources. Meanwhile, those still on board are finding themselves in a hostile and uncertain work environment.
White House’s Response: No Sympathy, No Surprise
If anyone thought this mass resignation would shake up Trump’s administration, they were dead wrong. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wasted no time dismissing the concerns of the ex-DOGE workers.
“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.”
While Musk and Trump keep pushing forward, the resignations signal a brewing rebellion within government ranks. And with lawsuits flying, it’s clear this DOGE project isn’t running as smoothly as Musk might’ve hoped.
A Legacy of Public Service, Now in Question
For context, these aren’t just random quitters. These employees came from powerhouse companies like Google and Amazon, bringing serious tech talent to the government.
They were part of the United States Digital Service, an agency created under President Barack Obama to fix government tech after the disastrous Healthcare.gov rollout.
Their reason for joining? Public service.
“We joined the government out of a sense of duty,” they wrote in their letter.
Now? They’re walking away rather than becoming part of what they see as a dangerous political agenda.
What’s Next for DOGE and Musk?
So what happens now? Musk’s ambitious federal restructuring plan is looking more unstable than ever. With a growing list of lawsuits, internal resistance, and public scrutiny, the road ahead isn’t looking smooth.
This mass resignation might not stop Musk in his tracks, but it definitely proves that not everyone is willing to play his game.
Will more government employees follow suit? Will lawsuits stall Musk’s vision? The battle for the future of federal jobs is far from over.