Above photo: Cath Virginia / The Verge.
“They are destroyers. We are the builders.”
A group of current and former federal workers aims to share anonymous stories and technical explainers about DOGE’s impact on the government and citizens’ data.
Around a dozen current and former federal workers are behind a new website created as an outlet to share anonymous stories and technical expertise about the Department of Government Efficiency’s dismantling of government agencies.
“We the Builders” aims to be a secure outlet for government workers to share how their workplaces are being impacted by DOGE, and a place to explain the real-world impact of its access to government tech systems, a former federal worker behind the project tells The Verge. The website was created by people who “made government websites easier to use while protecting the integrity of your personal information,” according to its description. Had DOGE wanted “to use technology to build a more efficient country, they would ask us,” the site says. “But they haven’t. They are destroyers. We are the builders.”
The website is aimed at informing the general public about what’s happening inside federal agencies, as well as explaining how a database being accessed by DOGE in Washington, DC could impact citizens in tangible ways all across the country. “I want to make sure that people understand that data matters,” says the former federal worker, who was granted anonymity for fear of retribution and harassment in going public, but whose identity has been confirmed by The Verge. “If I can explain that in a way that helps you to be able to protect yourself and advocate for yourself, then I’m doing my job.”
While social media forums like Reddit and Instagram have already become gathering places for federal workers to commiserate, We the Builders aims to offer an alternative outlet for workers who may be fearful to share their stories even through an anonymous social media account. The team says they are working with a security consultant to ensure that submissions remain secure and anonymous to the public. They also plan to vet submissions for accuracy and use their networks to confirm that they are coming from real federal workers.
So far, the site hosts a couple of anonymous blog posts explaining the work of the US Digital Service — which has been renamed to incorporate the acronym DOGE under President Donald Trump — and comparing the former USDS and DOGE’s approach to efficiency. It describes USDS’ method as “Precision Engineering for Public Good,” and DOGE’s as “Disruption Without Understanding.”
The former government employee says they hope visitors to the website “can walk away with a more nuanced understanding of what’s happening. I’m hoping that federal workers can see stories of people like them, and also help them make decisions for themselves, and to feel supported.”
Are you a current or former US federal government worker? Reach out securely on a personal device with tips to Lauren Feiner via Signal at laurenfeiner.64.