Tech Staffers Say ‘Nah’ to Musk’s DOGE: Resignations on the Rise

In an unprecedented move, over 20 federal employees said a definitive “see ya!” to Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Tuesday. These brave souls tossed in their hats rather than collaborate in Musk’s mission to utterly dismantle vital public services. You know, just your average Tuesday in the bizarre world of contemporary governance.

In a heartfelt resignation letter, the former staffers proclaimed their loyalty to the American people and the Constitution, imagine that! They voiced their reluctance to use their technical wizardry to “dismantle critical public services”. But tell us something we don’t know: Musk’s agenda is more about trimming the federal fat than making our lives easier.

The engineering and design talent who jumped ship, including former Googlers and Amazonians, expressed concern that their replacements are political puppies lacking any real tech skills. Honestly, what could go wrong with ideologues at the wheel?

As if we didn’t see this coming, the disaster unfolded against a backdrop of ongoing court battles aimed at halting Musk’s purge of government workers. But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, trying to sound tough from her podium, dismissed this mass resignation with the flair of someone who just lost a game of poker. “Anyone who thinks protests will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock,” she quipped, as if dismissing the concerns of skilled professionals was simply a badge of honor.

For Musk, it seems like any bad press is just fuel for his fire. On X, Musk labeled the resignation story “fake news,” playfully suggesting those who left were merely “Dem political holdovers”. Classic deflection! Let’s just ignore the fact that these tech-savvy employees were working on essential services like Social Security and disaster relief, pretty much stuff people literally depend on.

The situation inspires a mix of pity and laughter. The workers, once proud members of the United States Digital Service (USDS), saw their responsibilities gobbled up by DOGE, which was initially pitched to be a support team rather than a decimation crew. However, the moment Trump took office, it turned into a chaotic disaster from which none would emerge unscathed.

For now, as Musk chainsaws his way through bureaucracy and the tech community watches in horror, one can only hope that more civil servants step up like these 21 courageous resigners. Because newsflash: using tech skills to wreck lives is a no-go for any decent technologist, at least, we hope so!