More than 20 civil service employees resigned Tuesday from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, rejecting their roles in what they described as an effort to “dismantle critical public services.” The mass departure follows growing concerns over the billionaire Trump adviser’s plans to overhaul the federal workforce.
In a joint resignation letter, the 21 staffers stated, “We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution. However, it has become clear that we can no longer honor those commitments.”
According to The AP, employees, including engineers, data scientists, and product managers, warned that many of Musk’s appointees lacked the expertise needed to restructure the government effectively. Their resignations mark a significant setback for Musk and President Trump’s administration, which has aggressively pursued a tech-driven effort to reduce federal staffing.
The move comes as legal battles intensify over the administration’s push to cut government jobs, with lawsuits aiming to halt or reverse widespread firings. The departures raise fresh concerns about the future of public services under the ongoing federal overhaul.