In Washington, a significant number of civil service employees, over 20 in total, resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, a well-known adviser to former President Donald Trump. They expressed their refusal to use their technical skills to “dismantle critical public services.” The 21 employees penned a resignation letter that emphasized their commitment to serving the American people and upholding their oath to the Constitution, but they felt unable to continue this under the current administration’s direction.
The group raised concerns that Musk’s team, which was supposed to help reduce the size of the federal government under Trump, was composed predominantly of individuals driven by political ideology rather than the necessary experience and skills. These resignations, which included engineers, data scientists, and product managers, represent a temporary setback in Musk and Trump’s mission to overhaul the federal workforce, described by some as a technological purge. This effort coincides with ongoing court battles aiming to stall or reverse actions that threaten to displace thousands of government workers.
These employees had previously served with the United States Digital Service, an initiative begun during the Obama administration post the problematic launch of Healthcare.gov. Many of them came from influential tech companies like Google and Amazon, motivated by a sense of duty to improve public services. However, Trump’s alignment with Musk shifted their work environment drastically. They described being subjected to intimidating interviews after Trump’s inauguration—interviews conducted by unnamed individuals who displayed limited technical knowledge and strong political biases, raising significant security concerns.
Earlier in the month, the Digital Service had lost around 40 staffers in layoffs, leaving a gaping hole in the government’s tech management capabilities. These lay-offs have reportedly compromised services such as Social Security, veterans’ services, healthcare, and more, potentially impacting millions of Americans who rely on them. The remaining staff were divided, with about 65 joining the Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), and many of them felt unable to support DOGE’s mission and hence resigned.
The tech restructuring under Musk diverges strongly from the initiatives discussed by Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign. Initially, DOGE was pitched as an external, commission-based project, subtly nodding to Musk’s affinity for cryptocurrency. Post-election, Musk hinted at more radical reforms, humorously mocking government structures. His role became more prominent, highlighted during his appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he theatrically brandished a chainsaw gifted by the Argentinian president, symbolizing his attack on bureaucracy.
Despite these upheavals, Musk has shown interest in retaining technical experts, although many roles affected in recent layoffs were outside core tech functions, like product managers and HR professionals. Among the few technical job losses was engineer Jonathan Kamens, who suggested his dismissal was politically motivated. Kamens had openly criticized Musk and supported Vice President Kamala Harris, which he believed contributed to his layoff.
Veterans of the U.S. Digital Service reported surprise at the workings of government processes, realizing over time that government obligations require more cautious management than Musk and his team might understand from the private sector. The mantra “move fast and break things” is unsuited for government, where the consequences of failure affect uninvolved citizens, noted a former Department of Transportation officer.
The U.S. Digital Service, established over a decade ago to upgrade veteran services and introduce user-friendly government tech solutions, has faced internal challenges and opposition from within government agencies. Nevertheless, its mission of improving American public services created a powerful legacy and a lasting connection with the White House’s vision for technical advancement in government.
