DOGE Staffers Resign, Citing Concerns Over Agency's Actions and Elon Musk's Role

DOGE Staffers Resign, Citing Concerns Over Agency's Actions

Twenty-one staffers from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, have resigned. In a letter sent to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the staffers expressed their concerns over the agency's actions and refused to "legitimize DOGE's actions."

The staffers, who were originally part of the U.S. Digital Service, claimed they were subjected to a series of concerning events. These included interviews with unidentified individuals wearing White House visitor badges, attempts to pit colleagues against each other, and limited technical ability demonstrated by the interviewers. They also expressed concerns over DOGE's actions, including firing technical experts, mishandling sensitive data, and breaking critical systems. These actions, they argued, contradicted the mission of DOGE as outlined in the executive order creating the agency.

The resignations come amidst growing concerns over DOGE's impact on the federal workforce. The agency's cuts have caused chaos across multiple departments, with thousands of jobs identified as redundant or unaligned with the administration's views. This has led to mass terminations by federal agency heads.

Adding to the controversy is the question of Elon Musk's role at DOGE. While the executive order stated that DOGE would have an administrator, the Trump administration has claimed in court that Musk is neither the administrator nor an employee of the organization. This issue, along with the constitutionality of DOGE itself, is currently being challenged in court.

The White House has not directly addressed the question of Musk's role at DOGE, but has confirmed that Amy Gleason is the agency's administrator. They have also stated that Musk is tasked with overseeing the DOGE effort, with career officials and political appointees assisting in the day-to-day operations.