A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) security architect has come forward with alarming allegations that Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) accessed and transferred sensitive agency data in March 2024.
Daniel J. Berulis, 38, detailed the incidents in an April 14 letter to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. According to his account, DOGE officials arrived at NLRB headquarters in Washington D.C. on March 3rd and demanded creation of special administrator accounts with unrestricted system access.
The whistleblower reports that approximately 10 gigabytes of data were extracted from NLRB's case management system between 3-4 AM EST on March 4th. The accessed database contains confidential information about unions, ongoing legal cases, and corporate data.
Adding to concerns, Berulis documented nearly two dozen login attempts from a Russian IP address using valid credentials for a newly-created DOGE account. These attempts were automatically blocked by geographic restrictions.
The complaint alleges that network logs were subsequently deleted and monitoring capabilities were disabled. When Berulis and colleagues attempted to investigate, they discovered their access had been restricted.
While NLRB's acting press secretary Tim Bearese stated that DOGE neither requested nor received system access, Berulis provided screenshots showing agency email discussions about the unexplained account activity.
The whistleblower reports facing intimidation, including a threatening note with drone surveillance photos left at his home. His attorney Andrew P. Bakaj noted the warning specifically referenced the planned disclosure.
Berulis is currently on paid family leave from NLRB. "We can't really do anything, so we're literally getting paid to count ceiling tiles," he said, referring to widespread access restrictions implemented after his allegations became public.
The case raises questions about data security and oversight at federal agencies, particularly given ongoing legal disputes between NLRB and Musk-owned companies regarding workers' rights and union organizing.