This week, the Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) came under scrutiny as 21 civil service employees resigned citing political interference and threats to federal integrity.
Reasons for Employees' Resignation
The group, comprising engineers, product managers, and designers, submitted a joint resignation letter stating they refuse to participate in dismantling vital public services. In a letter addressed to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, they accused D.O.G.E. of 'compromising core government systems', removing technical experts without warning, and creating a hostile work environment under Elon Musk. 'We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations,' the letter read.
Musk's Influence and Administrative Reaction
The resignations follow Musk's controversial takeover of the U.S. Digital Service (USDS). Musk was given free rein to slash government operations under the banner of efficiency after the USDS was rebranded as D.O.G.E. by Donald Trump. Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) and dismissed the departing workers as 'Dem political holdovers.' At the same time, Trump administration officials have been evasive about the real leadership of D.O.G.E.
Legal Challenges to Trump's Executive Order
The legal status of Musk's role at D.O.G.E. is now challenged in multiple lawsuits. While Trump has publicly credited Musk with the overhaul of the agency, legal filings tell a different story. Office of Administration Director Joshua Fisher stated that Musk 'is not an employee' of any government entity under D.O.G.E.
For now, the 21 employees who resigned say they had no choice but to leave. They signed up to make the government more efficient but witnessed its dismantling instead.
