The resignation comes amidst a wave of scrutiny directed at Musk's Doge, which is currently under fire for controversial actions and statements.
Elon Musk's Doge Unit Faces Controversy as Staffer Resigns Over Racist Posts
Elon Musk's Doge Unit Faces Controversy as Staffer Resigns Over Racist Posts
Marko Elez's departure raises questions about the ethics within Musk's new government efficiency initiative.
A young member of Elon Musk's newly established Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) has stepped down following revelations linking him to a racist social media account. Marko Elez, 25, previously employed by Musk's SpaceX, was identified in reports that detailed a now-deleted account promoting racist ideologies and eugenics. The White House confirmed Elez's resignation on Friday, without detailing the reasons behind it.
Musk publicly commented on the situation via a poll on X, inquiring followers whether he should reinstate Elez, who was accused of making "inappropriate statements" using a pseudonym. One controversial comment dated back to July, where the account claimed, "Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool."
The account also shared a range of provocative remarks, verified by the BBC, including statements against inter-ethnic marriage and calls to "normalize Indian hate." All such posts have since been removed. As of Friday morning, over 385,000 participants responded to Musk's poll regarding Elez's potential return, with an overwhelming 78% expressing support for re-hiring him.
In a direct interaction, Musk affirmed a user's sentiment that a conversation about Elez's comments was warranted, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. Vice President JD Vance commented on the matter as well, stating that while he disagreed with some of Elez's views, he believed a young person's "stupid social media activity" shouldn’t dictate their future.
Elez's resignation further complicates the scrutiny surrounding Doge, which has emerged as a significant entity under Musk's directive, aimed at transforming governmental efficiency. Recently, a US judge impeded one of Musk's proposals to incentivize federal employees to voluntarily leave their positions. Musk's broader ambition includes dismantling USAID, the agency overseeing international aid and development, raising concerns over the extensive purging of federal staff during his administration.
