High-ranking DOGE official and Elon Musk ally, Antonio Gracias, has left government

Source: NBC News

July 24, 2025, 5:00 AM EDT / Updated July 24, 2025, 11:04 AM EDT


Antonio Gracias, a high-ranking DOGE volunteer who was simultaneously managing nearly $2 billion in assets for nine public pension funds, has left the government, his firm told a top union official who raised questions about the risks Gracias’ dual roles posed to the funds.

Gracias is the founder, chief executive and chief investment officer of Valor Equity Partners, a private equity firm that manages $17.5 billion in assets. A longtime Elon Musk ally, Gracias had been volunteering at the Department of Government Efficiency, the cost-cutting entity created by Musk and President Donald Trump. During his time at DOGE, he attacked the Social Security Administration and raised allegations of voter fraud.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, told NBC News that she sent letters to the managers of the nine funds on Monday, “to question if the risks of Valor now outweigh the gains.”

“Pension fund fiduciaries have a duty to ensure the integrity of their investments," Weingarten said in an interview. "And it is concerning to us that Valor employees appear to be engaged in alternative pursuits unrelated to the management of their core business.” Weingarten asked the nine pension fund managers, who together have invested $1.8 billion with Valor, whether Gracias’ work with DOGE has reduced the value of their investments.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/doge/high-ranking-doge-official-elon-musk-ally-antonio-gracias-left-governm-rcna220611