The United States Digital Service (USDS) is undergoing a major transformation after its rebranding as the US DOGE Service, a shift influenced by Elon Musk. This transition has sparked uncertainty within the organization, leading to the resignation of Anne Marshall, the director of data science and engineering, who stepped down on Wednesday after just two months in her role.
Marshall, who joined USDS in September 2023 following over a decade at Amazon, was promoted in December. However, she resigned in protest against recent job cuts, criticizing them as rash and damaging to the agency’s mission.
Mass Layoffs Trigger Departure
In a LinkedIn post announcing her resignation, Marshall expressed gratitude for her time at USDS but strongly opposed the decision to lay off about one-third of the workforce.
“Today I resigned from the US Digital Service. It has been the greatest privilege of my life to do this work with an amazing team,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, DOGE chose to fire one-third of them last week. These cuts were shortsighted, ill-informed, and indiscriminate. The government and the American people will be worse off from the loss of these people.”
The layoffs, which occurred on a Friday evening, affected around 50 employees, including product managers and designers, raising concerns about the organization’s future.
DOGE’s Increasing Control
In a meeting on Tuesday, USDS employees met with two DOGE representatives—Amy Gleason, a former Trump administration USDS official, and Kendall Lindemann, a former consultant at McKinsey & Company. The discussion aimed to clarify DOGE’s vision for the agency following the abrupt terminations.
According to sources, Gleason and Lindemann informed staff that DOGE would take a more active role in managing the organization moving forward. They also stated that all remaining USDS employees would now be considered part of DOGE, effectively merging the two teams.
This marks a shift from earlier in the transition when USDS employees reported that DOGE had intentionally separated its new members from the legacy staff, even implementing a “firewall” between the groups. Before Tuesday, the only DOGE representative attending broader USDS meetings was Stephanie M. Holmes, who had introduced herself as the new HR lead.
Uncertainty Over Leadership
Despite Musk’s visible role in pushing the DOGE transition, there is ongoing confusion about who is officially in charge. On Monday, Joshua Fisher, director of the White House Office of Administration, filed a sworn statement asserting that Musk is not the formal administrator of DOGE. Instead, Fisher described Musk as a “senior advisor” to the president, with no more authority than other White House advisors.
This lack of clarity has left USDS employees frustrated. Many have asked for the identity of the current administrator but have yet to receive an answer. During Tuesday’s meeting, Gleason and Lindemann declined to disclose leadership details, deepening uncertainty. Meanwhile, the White House has remained silent on the matter.
Marshall’s Final Statement
In her farewell message, Marshall expressed deep skepticism about DOGE’s ability to continue USDS’s mission.
“I do not believe that DOGE can continue to deliver the work of USDS, based on their actions so far,” she wrote. “I am leaving by choice—no forced exits, no ultimatums—just actively, sadly, walking away. This is not the mission I came to serve.”
As DOGE asserts more control over the agency, concerns about leadership, job stability, and the direction of USDS continue to unsettle employees. With little clarity on the future, uncertainty looms over the once-stable organization.
