'We Swore to Serve the American People': 21 Ex-USDS Workers Revolt Against Musk's DOGE and Walk Out

In a dramatic turn of events, 21 employees from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have resigned in protest against Elon Musk's leadership, citing concerns over the dismantling of critical public services. The resignations, detailed in a letter first reported by AP News, highlight growing tensions between Musk and civil servants unwilling to comply with sweeping government cuts.

The ex-DOGE staffers, many of whom were part of the U.S. Digital Service (USDS) before Musk's takeover, stated in their resignation letter that they 'swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations' but could no longer stand by as essential government functions were being slashed. According to the Daily Mail, these resignations come in response to Musk's aggressive cost-cutting measures that have already led to the firing of 40 federal employees and drastic policy shifts.

Musk's Overhaul Sparks Internal Backlash

Since taking control of DOGE, Musk has pushed through controversial policies, demanding access to sensitive government data, initiating sit-down performance reviews with federal employees, and even requiring weekly email reports detailing workers' accomplishments.

The staffers who resigned alleged that these reviews were conducted by individuals with little technical expertise and a clear political agenda. 'Several of these interviewers refused to identify themselves, asked questions about political loyalty, attempted to pit colleagues against each other, and demonstrated limited technical ability,' the letter stated, as per AP News.

The sudden mass exodus of engineers, data scientists, and policy experts has been met with mixed reactions. While the White House dismissed the resignations as insignificant, Musk took to social media to downplay the situation. In a post on X, he claimed the departing workers were 'Dem political holdovers' who 'would have been fired had they not resigned,' reinforcing his stance that DOGE's restructuring is necessary to eliminate wasteful bureaucracy.

DOGE's Deepening Controversy

DOGE has faced mounting criticism from within the government and the public alike. The department's sweeping budget cuts have reportedly saved around £51 billion ($65 billion), largely by axing contracts related to foreign aid, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and various federal programmes. However, critics argue that these cuts have disproportionately impacted vulnerable citizens reliant on public services such as Social Security, veterans' benefits, and student aid.

The former DOGE staffers accused Musk's administration of prioritising political ideology over public service. 'These highly skilled civil servants were working to modernise Social Security, veterans' services, tax filing, healthcare, disaster relief, and student aid,' the resignation letter stated. '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,' reported Daily Mail.

Fallout and Future Implications

The mass resignations come at a turbulent time for DOGE. Earlier this month, federal employees received a vague email from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), reportedly on Musk's directive, demanding they account for their weekly work output. The move was met with resistance from multiple agencies, including the FBI and the Pentagon, both of which advised staff to ignore the directive. Musk later doubled down, stating that any employee who failed to respond to the next email would be terminated.

Despite the resignations, Musk appears undeterred in his mission to reshape the federal workforce. His aggressive cost-cutting approach has drawn comparisons to his handling of Twitter, where thousands of employees were dismissed under his leadership. While supporters argue that Musk is eliminating inefficiencies, detractors warn that his methods are disruptive and could have long-term consequences for government functionality.

A Divisive Leadership

Musk's leadership at DOGE continues to divide opinion. Some view his approach as a much-needed disruption to an overly bloated bureaucracy, while others fear it threatens the integrity of essential public services. The resignation of 21 key employees marks a significant moment in this ongoing saga, raising further questions about the future direction of the department under Musk's rule.

With legal challenges already mounting against DOGE's actions and protests growing across the country, the controversy surrounding Musk's government overhaul is far from over.