A recent whistleblower report has raised serious concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its activities at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The whistleblower, Daniel Berulis, claims that DOGE may have removed sensitive labor data from NLRB systems. This allegation comes just a day after NPR reported on the disclosure, which has sparked alarm among NLRB employees.
On Tuesday, DOGE representatives visited the NLRB office in Washington, D.C. for a meeting. An email sent to NLRB staff, which was shared with NPR, stated that two DOGE staffers would be assigned to the agency for several months, primarily working remotely. They have requested access to information about NLRB operations but insisted that any documents provided should not contain personally identifiable information.
This situation has left NLRB employees feeling anxious and uncertain. One employee described the atmosphere as chaotic, with many worried about the potential mishandling of sensitive data. Andrew Bakaj, an attorney for Berulis, expressed concern that DOGE’s access to NLRB systems before an investigation raises significant red flags.
The NLRB’s acting press secretary, Tim Bearese, did not answer questions about DOGE’s visit. He previously denied that the NLRB had granted DOGE access to its systems. However, Berulis’s whistleblower disclosure suggests otherwise, indicating that DOGE had created and deleted an account in the NLRB’s cloud systems.
This controversy is part of a broader concern regarding DOGE’s access to sensitive data across various federal agencies. U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat, has called for an investigation into DOGE’s actions, suggesting that they may be involved in illegal activities. Connolly’s letter to independent labor watchdogs questions how DOGE’s access might violate federal law and what records exist of their activities within NLRB systems.
As the situation unfolds, the implications of DOGE’s actions could have significant consequences for data privacy and security within the federal government. The House Oversight Committee is now under pressure to investigate this matter further, as concerns about the misuse of personal data continue to grow.