Mass Resignation at Musk’s DOGE: One-Third of Staff Exit in Protest Over Risky Demands

In a dramatic turn of events, roughly one-third of the staff at Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have resigned in protest. The staffers cited their refusal to push through demanded changes that they believe put the country at risk. This mass resignation underscores growing tensions within the department, which has been under Musk’s influence since its transformation from the United States Digital Service (USDS) during the Trump administration.

A Stand for Integrity

In a letter addressed to White House chief of staff Susan Wiles, 21 DOGE staffers expressed their unwavering commitment to serving the American people and upholding their oath to the Constitution. “However, it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments,” the letter stated. The staffers emphasized that the demanded changes would compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, and dismantle critical public services.

Chaotic Transition and Political Loyalty

The letter also detailed a chaotic transition process that began on January 21, with hastily conducted interviews by unidentified individuals wearing White House visitor badges. These interviewers questioned staff about political loyalty, attempted to create division among team members, and displayed “limited technical ability.” Tensions escalated on February 14 when approximately one-third of USDS staff were abruptly terminated via anonymous email.

Impact on Critical Services

The dismissed employees had been working on modernizing critical government systems, including Social Security, veterans’ services, tax filing, healthcare, and disaster relief platforms. “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,” the letter stated.

Musk’s Response

Elon Musk downplayed the significance of the departures, describing the resigning workers as “political holdovers” who worked remotely and refused to return to the office as ordered by Trump. “They would have been fired had they not resigned,” Musk added on X, the platform he owns.

Software for Mass Firings

The mass resignation came days after Musk engineered a mass email to the federal government’s two million workers, ordering them to justify their work or risk being fired. According to Wired magazine, engineers at DOGE are working on new software that could assist in the mass firing of federal workers across the government. This software would streamline the dismissal process, known as a reduction in force, for firing federal workers with stronger civil service protections.

The resignation of a significant portion of DOGE staff highlights the growing concerns over the direction of the department under Elon Musk’s influence. As the situation unfolds, the impact on national security and critical government services remains a pressing concern. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

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