Musk Rehires Staffer After Racist Posts Controversy

Elon Musk has announced the rehiring of Marko Elez, a 25-year-old Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer, after his resignation due to past racist social media posts. These posts were revealed by the Wall Street Journal and included statements promoting hate against Indian H-1B visa holders and eugenics. Vice President JD Vance publicly supported Elez's rehiring, arguing against severe consequences for past online behavior, and President Donald Trump endorsed this decision. A poll on Musk's platform, X, showed 78% support from nearly 400,000 respondents for Elez's return to DOGE. The decision has sparked controversy and criticism, particularly given Elez's sensitive role with access to the federal payment system. The situation highlights ongoing scrutiny of DOGE's personnel policies and the potential influence of extremist views within government operations.