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Mass Resignation at Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency
Over 20 employees at Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have resigned in protest against directives that they claim force them to undermine vital public services.
In a resignation letter obtained by The Associated Press, the departing staff members expressed their commitment to serving the American populace and adhering to their constitutional duties. They stated, “We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations. However, it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments.”
These employees were part of a team that was once known as the United States Digital Service, which was created during Barack Obama‘s presidency. Many of them had previously held positions at major tech firms like Google and Amazon, drawn to public service by a sense of responsibility.
In their letter, the staff emphasized their unwillingness to “use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,” adding, “We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions.”
The resignation letter also raised concerns about the qualifications of newcomers brought in by Musk, particularly those involved in efforts to reduce the federal government’s size during Donald Trump‘s administration. The employees expressed unease over many interviewers being inexperienced and ideologically driven, conducting interviews that raised security concerns.
According to the letter, some interviewers, wearing White House visitor badges, questioned the candidates about their political affiliations rather than their technical qualifications. The letter described a process that could potentially create security vulnerabilities within federal technology operations.
Earlier this month, approximately 40 employees from the office were laid off, which the resigned staffers described as detrimental to the government’s technological infrastructure. They noted, “These highly skilled civil servants were working to modernize Social Security, veterans’ services, tax filing, health care, disaster relief, student aid, and other critical services. Their removal endangers millions of Americans who rely on these services every day.”
The collective resignation of these engineers, data scientists, and product managers poses a significant obstacle to Musk and the administration’s efforts to reshape the federal workforce through a tech-centric approach. This event unfolds against a backdrop of legal challenges aimed at obstructing the systematic layoffs of numerous government employees.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Source
www.yahoo.com