WASHINGTON (AP) — In a significant move, more than 20 civil service employees resigned on Tuesday from billionaire adviser Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. The employees stated they could not use their technical expertise to "dismantle critical public services."
In a joint resignation letter obtained by The Associated Press, the 21 staffers emphasized their dedication to serving the American people and upholding their oath to the Constitution, regardless of the presidential administration. "It has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments," they wrote.
The employees warned that many individuals enlisted by Musk to reduce the size of the federal government under President Donald Trump's administration were political ideologues lacking the necessary skills or experience.
The mass resignation of engineers, data scientists, and product managers presents a temporary setback for Musk and President Trump's tech-driven efforts to restructure the federal workforce. This development arises amidst a series of court challenges aimed at halting their efforts to dismiss or coerce thousands of government workers.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the mass resignation. "Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits, and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years," she stated. "President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on his promises to make our federal government more efficient and accountable."
The resigned staffers were previously part of the United States Digital Service (USDS), established during President Barack Obama's administration following the failed rollout of Healthcare.gov. The office was designed to improve government technology services, such as Social Security, veterans' services, and disaster relief.
The staffers expressed their sense of duty to public service, having held senior roles at top tech companies like Google and Amazon. However, Trump's empowerment of Musk disrupted their mission.
After Trump's inauguration, staffers were subjected to interviews signaling the secretive and disruptive nature of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Interviewers, some refusing to identify themselves, questioned employees' qualifications and political affiliations, creating significant security risks.
Earlier this month, about 40 staffers were laid off, jeopardizing the government's technological capabilities. "Their removal endangers millions of Americans who rely on these services every day," the resignation letter stated.
Those who remained, approximately 65 staffers, were integrated into DOGE’s government-reducing initiative. A third of them resigned on Tuesday. "We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems," they declared.
Musk's aggressive approach diverged from Trump's initial campaign promise. DOGE, named after Musk's favorite cryptocurrency meme coin, was initially presented as an external commission. Musk, however, leaned aggressively into his role, even showcasing a chainsaw as a symbol of bureaucracy reduction.
Musk has attempted to retain technical talent, focusing layoffs on roles like designers and product managers. Of the 40 people let go, only one was an engineer, Jonathan Kamens, who publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and criticized Musk.
Veterans of the USDS reflected on the challenges Musk and his team face in adapting to government processes. Unlike in the private sector, issues in government affect citizens who did not sign up for such risks.
USDS was established over a decade ago to improve services for veterans and create free government-run portals for tax filing. Despite facing bureaucracy challenges, USDS played a crucial role in enhancing federal government technology services.
White House press secretary Leavitt is currently facing a lawsuit from The Associated Press regarding editorial decisions, which the White House claims do not align with a new executive order.
AP video journalist Rodrique Ngowi contributed to this report from Boston.
