WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Twenty-one DOGE staffers resigned on Tuesday. In a resignation letter, the tech workers said they wouldn’t help “dismantle critical public services,” as Elon Musk and DOGE try to cut the size of the federal government. 

The Office of Personnel Management also told federal employees they should be ready to explain their productivity. Over the weekend, they sent an email to all federal employees, asking for five bullet points of “what you accomplished last week.” 

After the Monday deadline, Musk said in a tweet, employees had a second chance to respond or be fired. 

However, the White House said agencies will decide, not Musk. 

“This is to ensure that federal workers are not ripping off American taxpayers,” said Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary. 

In over a month, the Trump administration has fired federal employees, canceled contracts and taken the signs off federal agencies. 

“That does not bother me that we’re going to cut the headcount or the money,” said Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), co-chair of the Congressional DOGE caucus. 

The administration’s data posted online shows out of nearly 2,300 federal contracts DOGE has canceled, about a third aren’t expected to yield any savings. One administration official, though, said it still makes sense. 

Democrats vowed to fight the Trump administration’s moves. 

“We are legislating, we are litigating and we are agitating,” said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.). 

Sessions said, though, the Trump administration can better communicate its moves. 
“We do owe the American people answers,” Rep. Sessions said. “The visibility that even members of Congress have gotten a heads up about these things has not been as helpful as I think it should have been.” 

The White House said Musk will be part of President Donald Trump’s first cabinet meeting on Wednesday.