Twenty-one Employees Depart from DOGE following Elon Musk's Disruption of the American Government's Operations
Elon Musk's DOGE crew, formerly known as the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), saw a massive exodus of 21 employees this past Tuesday. The reason for their departure? Their disapproval of DOGE's relentless dismantling of the U.S. government. These technologists had been part of the USDS until a month prior, when Trump transformed the agency into DOGE.
In a statement to the Associated Press, the departing staff expressed their refusal to "use their skills to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans' sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services." They also declared their reluctance to be an active part in DOGE's actions, which they perceived as detrimental to the government.
The USDS was established in 2014 by President Obama to tackle technology-related issues in the government, such as fixing healthcare.gov and improving services like veterans' services, tax filing, and healthcare systems. However, when Trump assumed office in 2021, the USDS underwent a dramatic change. It was rebranded as DOGE and given a new mission to modernize government computer systems and reduce bureaucracy. Musk, a tech mogul, was instrumental in this initiative, although the White House maintained that he was not the administrator of DOGE.
DOGE, with Musk at the helm, has been wreaking havoc across various government agencies, unilaterally cancelling contracts, and threatening numerous programs. Musk's Twitter tirades, boasting about eradicating waste, fraud, and abuse, have become a daily occurrence. However, he has yet to provide concrete evidence of misconduct. Instead, he targets programs that he simply dislikes, cutting them down without the proper authorization.
In February 2021, about 40 employees were let go from DOGE/USDS, including Jonathan Kamens, an outspoken critic of Musk's methods. Kamens, a staunch supporter of Kamala Harris, believes his political views may have played a role in his termination. Ironically, many former USDS employees had been vocal critics of the government's inefficiencies and had been working to reform the system.
Cordell Schachter, who served as the CIO at the U.S. Department of Transportation until joining DOGE, shared her concerns about the impact of DOGE's quick-fix approach on government services. "Move fast and break things" may be suitable for a private business, Schachter argued, but it's not an option for government services, which belong to citizens who did not sign up for such disruptions.
DOGE's actions have sparked intense debate and scrutiny within the U.S. government and the general public. The rebranding of USDS to DOGE and Musk's involvement have raised concerns about ideological bias, a lack of understanding in technical fields, and the politicization of government services.
- The departing USDS employees fear that their future roles within DOGE might require them to violate ethical principles, jeopardizing American data and public services.
- Despite Elon Musk's influence in transforming the U.S. Digital Service into DOGE in 2021, his tech-driven approach in 2024 could potentially jeopardize the stability and effectiveness of critical government services.
- The controversialtech agenda of DOGE, spearheaded by Musk, has led the Doge crew to mix technology and politics, potentially leading to conflicts that could jeopardize the agency's credibility and its relationships with industry partners.
- In 2024, the Doge-led modernization efforts could face challenges and scrutiny, as concerned stakeholders raise questions about how DOGE's focus on technology might jeopardize the government's fundamental policies and principles, like protecting American citizens' sensitive data.
