A staffer from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency resigned following the emergence of racist social media posts. Marko Elez, a 25-year-old software engineer working in the Treasury Department under Musk’s DOGE initiative, was connected to now-deleted racist posts on Musk’s X platform, prompting his resignation. The posts included statements promoting ethnic hate and advocating for the repeal of the Civil Rights Act. Despite the deletion of the posts, their authenticity was independently verified by NPR using the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.

Elez’s resignation adds to concerns raised by lawmakers and former government employees about Musk’s staff selections and their impact on government operations. Critics question the legality and ethics of DOGE’s aggressive cost-cutting measures, with Democrats facing challenges in gaining insight due to Republican opposition. Additionally, Elez’s access to the Treasury payment system raised data privacy concerns, leading to lawsuits against the Treasury Department for alleged violations of federal privacy laws.

Although Elez and another DOGE-connected employee at Treasury had restricted access to the payment system, a temporary court order now prevents external access. The situation underscores the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Musk’s involvement in government affairs and the implications of his cost-trimming initiatives. The development serves as a focal point for discussions on transparency, accountability, and the intersection of private interests with public governance.