Elon Musk’s DOGE Team Staffer Resigns Over Racist Social Media Posts

WASHINGTON — A member of Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) resigned on Thursday following the resurfacing of racist social media posts. Marko Elez, a 25-year-old software engineer, was confirmed to have resigned by a White House official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Elez had been working at the Treasury Department, where he had access to a sensitive payment system that processes trillions of dollars annually. His resignation comes at a time when DOGE is under scrutiny for its controversial cost-cutting measures and what critics describe as potential conflicts of interest.

Previously employed at Musk’s companies, including X and SpaceX, Elez was one of two temporary appointees granted special access to Treasury’s highly sensitive systems. Reports by The Wall Street Journal detailed posts from 2024 linked to Elez’s account on X, where he made inflammatory comments, including calls to “normalize Indian hate” and an admission that he was “racist before it was cool.”

White House officials confirmed Elez’s resignation after being informed by the journal about his social media history. Elez did not respond to requests for comment. Vice President J.D. Vance expressed disagreement with Elez’s posts but advocated for his return, stating, “stupid social media activity should not ruin a kid’s life.” Former President Donald Trump voiced support for this sentiment as well.

Lawmakers have raised alarms over Elez’s prior access to sensitive Treasury data, particularly regarding the potential for private information to be mishandled. Two unions representing federal employees, along with an advocacy group, have sued the Treasury Department, alleging violations of federal privacy laws.

Elez was recently appointed as a special government employee with limited scope at the Treasury. A Justice Department lawyer clarified that he and another DOGE employee, Tom Krause, only had “read-only” access to the payments system, confirming that no data was shared outside of the agency.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended DOGE amid the controversy, asserting that the unit comprises trained professionals. “This is methodical and it is going to yield big savings,” he stated.

The resignation of Elez occurs against a backdrop of heightened criticism directed at Musk’s team for its aggressive budget cuts. Democrats have struggled to issue subpoenas against Musk regarding possible conflicts, facing opposition from Republican lawmakers. With the Democrats in Congress demanding transparency and accountability, the efficacy of their efforts remains uncertain.

Amid the political firestorm, critics of DOGE continue to voice concerns about the implications of Musk’s extensive pursuit of government austerity, including potential risks to sensitive public information.