Workers revolt against DOGE’s leadership, denouncing actions that could endanger public services. A significant number of former employees from the U.S. Digital Service (USDS) have stepped down from their positions at DOGE, the government division reshaped under Elon Musk’s leadership.

These 21 ex-staffers, in a powerful resignation letter, expressed their strong objections to what they consider the dismantling of critical public services. Their letter, first reported by AP, reveals deep frustration over the direction DOGE has taken since Musk’s involvement.

“We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations,” the resigning workers wrote, explaining their decision to leave the department.

These individuals were part of the original USDS team—a small but vital government body dedicated to improving federal technology services. Under Musk’s direction, however, the department underwent a radical transformation, becoming DOGE, a unit focused on cutting federal spending and reshaping public service programs.

The mass resignation comes after a tumultuous period for DOGE, which has aggressively pursued cost-cutting measures, including slashing public service contracts and firing dozens of employees. In total, 40 former USDS staff members have been let go since Musk’s takeover. The 21 workers who resigned argued that the changes under DOGE’s leadership have jeopardized the functioning of essential services that millions of Americans rely on daily.

DOGE has made sweeping moves across federal agencies, requesting sensitive data, conducting performance reviews, and demanding email reports on the weekly activities of federal employees. These actions have raised alarm among some within the government, particularly those who view them as intrusive or politically motivated.

The resignation letter includes sharp criticism of how DOGE’s staffers have handled these reviews. The former employees describe interviewers who refused to identify themselves, posed questions about political loyalty, and created an environment of hostility. These workers also noted that the process posed significant security risks, as unqualified individuals with limited technical expertise were allowed to probe sensitive information.

DOGE spokesperson Katie Miller, however, responded with a pointed rebuttal. On X, she highlighted that the workers who had resigned were full remote employees and pointed out that they had decorated their workplaces with pride flags, seemingly to undermine their professional commitment. In her post, she implied that the resigning staffers, many of whom had backgrounds in big tech, were simply disappointed by the dramatic savings DOGE had achieved by cutting wasteful government programs.

According to DOGE’s claims, the cuts have saved the American taxpayer around $65 billion, a figure that the department touts as evidence of its effectiveness. These savings came from cuts to foreign aid, diversity and inclusion programs, newly hired federal workers, and other initiatives that DOGE deemed unnecessary.

However, the ex-employees who resigned argue that the department’s focus on budget cuts is coming at the expense of vital public services that serve American citizens, such as Social Security, veterans’ services, healthcare, disaster relief, and student aid.

The former DOGE workers emphasized that their expertise in modernizing these systems made them indispensable to the long-term stability and security of government functions. “Their removal endangers millions of Americans who rely on these services every day,” the resignation letter warns. “The sudden loss of their technology expertise makes critical systems and Americans’ data less safe.”

The resignations have come at a particularly tense moment for DOGE, which has been under fire for sending out an email from a generic “HR” address—originating from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)—asking federal employees to detail what they had accomplished in the past week.

This vague and somewhat alarming request prompted confusion, leading FBI Director Kash Patel and Pentagon officials, including Pete Hegseth, to tell their teams to ignore the email. Musk, undeterred, responded with a post on X warning that those who ignore future emails will face termination.

“Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance,” Musk’s post stated. “Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.” This directive has only added to the tension between DOGE leadership and its workforce.

The actions of DOGE, led by Musk and supported by political figures such as Donald Trump, are continuing to generate a volatile mix of strong resistance and outspoken support. As the fallout from these recent resignations plays out, questions remain about the future of public services and government technology under DOGE’s controversial leadership.

The resignation letter from the 21 former staffers, which declares that they “will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions,” signals a continued pushback against Musk’s vision for the future of federal tech operations.

At the heart of the debate is the balance between saving taxpayer dollars and maintaining critical services that millions of Americans rely on. Whether DOGE’s aggressive cuts will ultimately strengthen or undermine the federal government remains to be seen, but for now, the fallout from this resignation wave will not be easily resolved.

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