Over fifty Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns over a potential exposure of sensitive data about American workers, prompting them to demand answers from senior U.S. government officials. Addressed to William Cowen, the acting General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the lawmakers’ letter highlights a whistleblower report indicating that officials from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) may have mishandled sensitive labor data, potentially compromising NLRB systems.

The whistleblower, Daniel Berulis, an IT cloud administrator at the NLRB, expressed alarm over the actions of the DOGE team, led by Elon Musk, suggesting that they accessed internal information, including ongoing investigations, witness affidavits, and corporate secrets. Lawmakers questioned the necessity of DOGE’s access to NLRB systems, especially considering DOGE’s focus on government efficiency and cost reduction. They also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly regarding Musk’s companies like SpaceX and Tesla, which have cases before the NLRB.

Despite the NLRB’s denial of granting DOGE official access to its systems, there are lingering doubts about the security of NLRB data. The lawmakers emphasized the need for immediate clarification on DOGE’s alleged access and urged NLRB leadership to address the situation promptly. Berulis has called for further investigation by agencies with additional resources, citing forensic evidence supporting his claims.

The unfolding events underscore broader concerns about data security and potential breaches involving DOGE staff across various government agencies. These developments add to the mounting legal challenges facing the organization, raising questions about the handling of sensitive government data and the implications for data privacy and security across federal institutions.