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DOGE staffer resigns after racist posts resurface
Marko Elez, a key staffer on Elon Musk’s federal cost-cutting initiative, resigned after past racist posts from his social media accounts resurfaced. The resignation came after The Wall Street Journal and NPR reported on posts advocating racism, eugenics, and hostility toward Indian software engineers, which had been archived before the account was deleted.
NEW YORK - At least 19 Democratic attorneys general sued President Donald Trump on Friday to stop Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing records that contained sensitive personal information for millions of Americans.
Some records include personal data such as Social Security and bank account numbers.
What to know
Dig deeper:
The case was filed in a New York City federal court and claims Trump’s administration allowed Musk’s team to have access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system, which violates federal law.
The payment system handles tax refunds, Social Security benefits, veterans’ benefits and much more.
The system contains an expansive network of Americans’ personal and financial data.
In a statement, New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office filed the lawsuit, said DOGE's access to the Treasury Department's data raises security problems and the possibility for an illegal freeze in federal funds.
What they're saying:
"President Trump does not have the power to give away Americans’ private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress," said James, a Democrat who has been one of Trump's chief antagonists. "Musk and DOGE have no authority to access Americans’ private information and some of our country’s most sensitive data."
Which states are suing?
These are the states that are suing:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
What is DOGE?
FILE - Tesla, SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk arrives to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The backstory:
Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, was created to discover and eliminate what the Trump administration has deemed to be wasteful government spending. DOGE's access to Treasury records, as well as its inspection of various government agencies, has ignited widespread concern among critics over the increasing power of Musk, while supporters have cheered at the idea of reining in bloated government finances.
The Source: Information for this article was gathered from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Los Angeles.