Since Elon Musk took control of DOGE, formerly known as the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), the department has undergone dramatic transformations. DOGE, which initially had around 100 staff members, has reduced its workforce by 40 employees under Musk’
Musk’s aggressive overhaul of DOGE has been marked by demands for increased access to sensitive data across federal agencies. The department has called for employee performance reviews, weekly reports on achievements, and full access to data regarding federal workers. These changes, while aimed at increa
Numerous employees within DOGE have voiced strong opposition to the department’s management and hiring practices. Dozens of staff members have resigned, describing the process as a hostile environment. They claimed that interviewers, during performance reviews, not only refused to identify themselves but also asked inappropriate questions about political loyalty. Additionally, these interviewers allegedly attempted to create divisions among colleagues and displaye
In a scathing resignation letter, these former employees warned of serious security risks. They pointed out that some of the DOGE staff lacked the technical expertise necessary to manage sensitive governmental data. The letter further criticized the department’s management for its lack of understanding of technical fields, which they argued could jeopardize the integrity of critical systems and public services.
Despite the growing number of resignations, DOGE’s spokesperson, Katie Miller, has dismissed the criticisms. She claimed that most of the employees who resigned were full-remote workers with minimal involvement in the department’s day-to-day operations. Miller further defended the department’s review process, emphasizing that it had led to a significant cost-saving of about $65 billion. These savings reportedly stemmed from cutting contracts related to foreign aid, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, and other federal programs that DOGE deemed unnecessary.
The employees who resigned, however, highlighted the essential nature of their work. They emphasized that they had been responsible for modernizing critical public services, such as Social Security, veterans’ services, disaster relief, and student aid programs. Their departure, they argued, significantly weakens these essential services and places critical government systems and sensitive data at increased risk.
Adding to the controversy, DOGE sent an email to federal workers from an ‘HR’ account, instructing them to report their weekly work activities. This email led to confusion across federal agencies, with high-ranking officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Pentagon representatives, advising employees to disregard the message. However, Musk later clarified that the employees were required to respond, warning that failure to comply with a second request would result in termination. Musk stated that the decision to dismiss employees would ultimately be at the discretion of the President.
As a result of these sweeping changes and the tensions surrounding them, one-third of DOGE’s original workforce has now resigned. Many of these former employees have made it clear that they will not compromise government systems or put public data at risk. As the controversy surrounding DOGE’s policies continues to grow, questions about the long-term impact on federal operations, public services, and government transparency remain at the forefront of the national conversation.
