Resignation of DOGE Staff Highlights Ethical Challenges in Government During Political Transitions

Person holding resignation letter at desk

Twenty-one staffers from the Department of Government Efficiency resigned this week, revealing deep divisions between career federal employees and the Trump administration’s efforts to streamline government operations.

Quick Takes

Twenty-one Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers resigned, claiming they refused to “legitimize” actions they considered unconstitutional
Elon Musk, tasked with overseeing DOGE, dismissed the resignations as “political holdovers who refused to return to office”
The resignees inadvertently revealed potential political motivations in their resignation letter
Legal challenges have emerged questioning DOGE’s constitutionality and Musk’s role
The controversy highlights tensions between government efficiency goals and federal workforce management

Resignation Controversy Erupts at DOGE

The Department of Government Efficiency, formed by transforming the United States Digital Service that was originally created in 2014, has become the center of controversy after nearly two dozen staffers resigned simultaneously. In their resignation letter addressed to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the staffers expressed concerns about “compromising government systems” and “jeopardizing sensitive data.” The group, which included engineers, data scientists, and product managers previously employed at major tech companies like Google and Amazon, claimed they could not support what they viewed as ideological attacks on government systems.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields defended DOGE’s mission in response to the resignations, stating, “Democrats and the mainstream media have once again gone off the deep end with their breathlessly inaccurate reporting on President Trump’s widely popular mission to rid the federal government of waste, fraud, and abuse.”

Twenty-one civil service employees have resigned from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, saying they're refusing to use their technical expertise to “dismantle critical public services.”https://t.co/8ohcfajus6

— NBC4 Washington (@nbcwashington) February 25, 2025

Musk’s Leadership and Constitutional Questions

President Trump appointed Elon Musk to oversee DOGE following his re-election, though questions have emerged about Musk’s exact role and authority. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt clarified, “The president tasked Elon Musk to oversee the DOGE effort.” However, a federal judge has raised questions about the constitutionality of DOGE and Musk’s involvement, as he is not officially the administrator or an employee of the department.

“Move fast and break things’ may be acceptable to someone who owns a business and owns the risk,” said Cordell Schachter.

Tensions have also emerged between Trump and Musk regarding management style. Musk reportedly asked federal employees to list their weekly accomplishments or face termination, a demand that the Office of Personnel Management advised departments to ignore. Several Republican lawmakers have expressed concern about this approach, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, who stated, “This is not how we treat any of our workforce. It’s not how we treat our federal employees. They deserve better.”

Twenty-one staffers of the Elon Musk-helmed Department of Government Efficiency have resigned, saying in a letter sent Tuesday to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles that they "will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE's actions." https://t.co/9XkP46Z578

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 25, 2025

Political Motivations and Workforce Disruptions

The resignation letter itself has sparked controversy. In it, the staffers wrote, “We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations.” Some critics have pointed out this statement appears contradictory to their decision to resign under the current administration, suggesting political motivations rather than principled objections. Katie Miller, a DOGE representative, characterized the resigning employees as “full remote workers who hung Trans flags from their workplaces.”

“These were Dem political holdovers who refused to return to the office,” Musk stated in response to the resignations.

DOGE’s workforce cuts have caused disruptions across federal departments, with the resigning employees reporting intimidating interviews with unidentified individuals wearing White House visitor badges. Legal challenges have emerged from unions, states, and employees against the mass layoffs and buyout offers being implemented. The resignation letter also mentioned concerns over the layoff of 40 USDS staffers and potential impacts on critical public services, though some question whether these services were truly essential or efficient.