A staff member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, led by Elon Musk, has resigned following an investigation into racist social media posts. The Wall Street Journal's inquiry into a Twitter account linked to Marko Elez prompted the White House to confirm his resignation to CNBC. This account, previously active on Musk's platform X, advocated for racism and eugenics before its deletion in December.
Marko Elez, a special government employee, had been granted access to the U.S. Treasury's payment system by a federal judge. Although his ability to share data was restricted, Elez's role had been vetted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who described Elez as a "highly trained professional." Bessent assured that the DOGE team comprised competent individuals, stating, "This is not some roving band running around doing things" and emphasizing the methodical approach intended to yield significant savings.
The controversial account, @nullllptr, contained several offensive tweets. In July, it posted, "Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool." Another tweet expressed a disturbing sentiment about the Middle East conflict: "I would not mind at all if Gaza and Israel were both wiped off the face of the Earth." Additionally, in September, it declared, "You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity." Despite the account's deletion in December, the Wall Street Journal traced its origins back to Elez through archives on his personal website.
Elez's resignation comes amidst broader efforts spearheaded by Musk to reduce federal government spending and employee numbers. Musk plays a pivotal role in President Donald Trump's initiative to streamline government operations. As part of these efforts, Elez was designated as part of a select group intended to enhance efficiency within the Treasury Department.
The revelation that Elez was linked to the @nullllptr account has raised questions about vetting processes and accountability within high-profile government initiatives. The user also claimed employment at SpaceX and Starlink, companies where Elez had previously worked, further complicating the situation.
Leave a Reply