Elon Musk said he would rehire Marko Elez, a former staffer for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), who resigned after racist social media posts surfaced.
The decision, which Musk justified on X, has elicited mixed reactions from political leaders and the public. But as expected, President Donald Trump and even Vice President J.D. Vance supported the billionaire's resolve.
Musk Defends Rehiring: 'To Err is Human, to Forgive Divine'
Marko Elez, 25, quit on Thursday after The Wall Street Journal revealed several racist comments made from an account that appeared to be linked to him. These included a post reading, "Normalize Indian hate" and another stating, "You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity."
Even as the backlash mounted, Musk defended Elez, saying that people deserve second chances. The Tesla CEO said that the former DOGE staffer will return because "to err is human, to forgive divine."
Musk even conducted a poll on X regarding whether Elez should be rehired or not. The result, and subsequent support from political figures, likely decided the matter.
Bring back @DOGE staffer who made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 7, 2025
Vice President Vance and Trump Back Elez's Reinstatement
Among Elez's loudest backers is Vice President J.D. Vance. The wife of Vance is of Indian origin, and Vance himself conceded that Elez's past remarks were offensive, but social media mistakes should not ruin a career.
Are you going to tell him to apologize for saying "Normalize Indian hate" before this rehire? Just asking for the sake of both of our kids. https://t.co/7NY8m93hJa
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 7, 2025
As Politico reports, Vance disagrees with some of Elez's posts, but it does not mean that a simple racist post should ruin the life of the 25-year-old staffer.
He further condemned the role of journalists in revealing Elez's past, saying the media should not have the authority to "destroy people."
When asked about the issue during a White House press conference, Trump said he was unaware of the details but said that if Vance is on it, he would support his stand.
Concerns Over Elez's Access to Federal Payment Systems
Elez's reinstatement would likely bring additional criticism, as he works in the Treasury Department. As an affiliated staffer to DOGE, Elez has access to the federal payment system, which is a critical infrastructure managed by the Treasury Department's Bureau of the Fiscal Service.
According to reports, Elez is one of only two DOGE members authorized by the Justice Department to operate within this financial system, which processes trillions of dollars in federal payments.
This has raised red flags among Democratic lawmakers and financial experts, who are concerned that the authority could be misused. There is concern that DOGE's presence in the Fiscal Service could be used to withhold legally mandated payments considered unfavorable to the Trump administration.
Integrity of Federal Financial Systems in Danger Under DOGE
Federal employee unions have filed lawsuits against the Treasury Department, citing that DOGE's participation endangers the confidentiality of financial information. The unions claim that officials affiliated with DOGE endanger the transparency and impartiality of financial dealings.
One union representative said that the issue wasn't pointing out to the staffer's past comments. Instead, they are worried about the integrity of federal financial systems.
Musk's decision to bring back Elez has divided public opinion. Supporters argue that individuals should not be permanently judged by past mistakes, while critics say Elez's comments reflect deep-seated racism that makes him unfit for public service.
