Elon Musk's Doge Unit Faces Controversy After Staff Resignation Over Racist Posts

Resignation follows backlash against inflammatory comments tied to the young staffer, sparking a debate on racism in public service.

In a significant turn of events, a young aide within Elon Musk's recently established Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) has stepped down following revelations linking him to a controversial social media presence known for posting racist and eugenic views. Marko Elez, 25, who previously held a position at Musk's SpaceX, has been tied to an account that has since been deleted, which shared numerous incendiary remarks promoting racial division. The White House confirmed Elez's resignation without elaborating on the specifics.

Musk himself addressed the incident on X, the social media platform he owns, initiating a poll asking users if the staffer who made "inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym" should be reinstated. Some of the dubious content attributed to Elez included inflammatory remarks such as, "You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity," and a declaration that he was "racist before it was cool,” pointing towards a disturbing trend of hateful discourse both online and in public employment.

The repercussions of Elez's social media activity have ignited debate about the impact of inane online behavior on an individual's career. So far, more than 385,000 people participated in Musk's poll, with a notable 78% voting for Elez's return. In remarks addressing the situation, Vice-president JD Vance expressed mixed feelings, supporting the youth despite finding some of his posts objectionable, claiming that trivial social media conduct shouldn't define one's future.

This drastic resignation comes in the wake of ongoing controversies surrounding Doge, which is working under Trump's second term focused on reducing governmental size. Recently, a federal judge also obstructed part of Musk's strategy to incentivize numerous federal workers to resign, reflecting the mounting complexities within the administration. As Musk advocates for extensive changes, including the potential dismantling of USAID, a significant portion of the federal workforce—approximately 10,000—was slated for administrative leave, showcasing the high-stakes environment in which Musk's team operates.