18F files legal challenge
We believe the dismantling of our team was unlawful—and we’re fighting back.
May 28, 2025
We have some news to share with our community.
Today, a group of 18F employees took legal action to challenge our termination.
The government has to follow the rules—just like the rest of us. We believe the elimination of 18F was unlawful, in violation of safeguards that exist to protect a nonpartisan civil service. Our appeal to the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board seeks to hold the administration accountable for its actions and defend the rule of law.
The elimination of 18F has consequences not only for those of us who lost our jobs, but for the American people we each took an oath to serve. From streamlining federal permitting to making it easier for everyday people to file their taxes, our interrupted projects—already funded and underway—were exactly the type of technology modernization that DOGE claims to want. The fact that we have been prevented from completing this work underscores that DOGE’s actions are not in service of efficiency.
Since 18F was eliminated, we’ve watched the chaos as more and more federal agencies have conducted sweeping Reductions in Force—often without regard for common sense, common decency, or the impact on vital public services. By pursuing every recourse available to us in our own case, we stand with our fellow civil servants who are doing the same. Together, we can advocate for the public interest and the rule of law.
We swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, and our commitment to this oath didn’t end with our termination. That’s why we’re fighting back. Whatever the outcome of our appeal, we will never stop looking for ways to serve the American people. We are grateful to our friends, families, and community for their ongoing support.
For the most recent updates on our case, refer to findjustice.com/news. To learn more or for media inquiries, please contact us.