Marko Elez, a 25-year-old employee associated with Elon Musk’s companies and a member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force, has resigned following the discovery of racist social media posts. Elez, who had access to sensitive Treasury Department payment systems, stepped down on Thursday, according to a White House official who spoke to The Hill.
Racist posts uncovered
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Elez’s now-deleted social media posts, which included offensive remarks about people of Indian ethnicity working in the U.S. tech sector. In September, an account linked to Elez posted, “Normalize Indian hate,” and later wrote on Elon Musk’s social media platform X, “You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity.” These posts sparked widespread outrage and raised questions about the vetting process for individuals granted access to critical government systems.
Access to treasury systems
Despite the Treasury Department’s assertion that Elez and another staffer, Tom Krause, had “read-only” access to sensitive payment systems, reports suggest Elez had broader administrative privileges. Wired magazine revealed that Elez had administrator-level access to the backend of these systems and had visited a Kansas City office housing the servers.
A federal judge issued an order on Thursday confirming that Elez’s access to payment records would be limited to “read-only.” However, concerns remain about the extent of his access and the potential risks posed to national security.
DOGE task force and USAID controversy
Elez was a key figure in Elon Musk’s aggressive overhaul of federal agencies, particularly the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has faced significant cuts and restructuring. Emails obtained by The New York Times revealed that DOGE employees, including Elez and Krause, intended to target USAID payments using their access to Treasury systems. This has raised alarms about the potential misuse of government resources and the lack of oversight in Musk’s task force.
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Broader implications and reactions
Elez’s resignation highlights the challenges of integrating private-sector personnel into government operations, especially when sensitive systems are involved. Critics argue that the incident underscores the need for stricter background checks and accountability measures for individuals granted access to critical infrastructure.
The scandal has also drawn attention to Elon Musk’s leadership style and the culture within his companies. Musk, who has faced criticism for his own controversial social media activity, has yet to comment publicly on Elez’s resignation or the broader implications for his DOGE task force.
Recent developments
In related news, the Treasury Department has announced a review of its access protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, USAID employees have expressed concerns about the ongoing restructuring and its impact on the agency’s ability to carry out its mission.
The fallout from this incident serves as a cautionary tale about the intersection of technology, government, and private-sector influence. As federal agencies continue to modernize, ensuring the integrity and security of sensitive systems will remain a top priority.
This story is ongoing, and further updates are expected as investigations into Elez’s access and the DOGE task force’s activities continue.
