More than 20 staffers who worked in the federal department overtaken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) resigned Tuesday, saying they won’t use their technical skills to “jeopardize” Americans’ data and “compromise” essential government systems.
The 21 employees worked in the United States Digital Service (USDS) office, the technology unit that became DOGE, an advisory board led by tech billionaire Elon Musk that has overseen the firings of thousands of federal workers as part of its mission to curb government waste.
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“We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,” the staffers wrote in the Tuesday letter posted on the “We the Builders” website. “We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions.”
The website was reportedly launched earlier this month for federal workers to share information about DOGE. The Associated Press first reported of the resignations.
Among the employees who stepped down Tuesday were data scientists, engineers, product managers and designers.
On Jan. 21, the day after President Trump’s inauguration, the workers said they were subjected to interviews with individuals with White House visitor badges who questioned them about “political loyalty.”
“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 staffers wrote in the letter. “This process created significant security risks and was designed to intimidate government employees.”
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Some 40 staffers were terminated from the USDS office on Feb. 14, with the employees warning in the Tuesday letter that 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.”
Employees said that each of them left the private sector to “pursue nonpartisan public service.”
“We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations,” they wrote. “However, it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments at the United States DOGE Service.”
DOGE has spearheaded the slashing of spending in the name of boosting government efficiency and eliminating fraud. The group has targeted numerous agencies and departments in recent weeks.
Many of DOGE’s actions have been challenged in court.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
