21 federal digital service staffers resign, refuse to help DOGE

Twenty-one civil service employees resigned from the Trump administration on Tuesday, saying that they refused to help the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) trim the federal workforce. 

The 21 staffers, including engineers, data scientists and product managers, sent a joint resignation letter stating that they are opposed to using their technical expertise to "compromise core government systems."

"We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans' sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services," the 21 employees said in their letter obtained by Fox News and The Associated Press. "We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE's actions."

DOGE adviser Katie Millier said in an X post that the employees who resigned were "full remote workers who hung Trans flags from their workplaces." 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the resignation letter in a statement to The Associated Press, noting that any court challenges or other protests will not affect Trump from delivering his promises.

Fox News Digital also reached out to the White House about the letter but did not immediately hear back. 

The now-former staffers complained about their DOGE onboarding process after Trump took office.

"Several of these interviewers refused to identify themselves, asked questions about political loyalty, attempted to pit colleagues against each other, and demonstrated limited technical ability," the staffers wrote in their letter. "This process created significant security risks."

During the transition, 40 staffers reportedly were laid off earlier this month and the 65 remaining staffers were integrated into DOGE. Only 44 employees now remain, according to the AP's reporting.

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.