- United States
- Utah
- Letter
John Berulis's whistleblower disclosure raises serious concerns about potential data breaches and the mishandling of sensitive information at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by DOGE engineers. The reported activities, including exfiltrating large amounts of data, disabling security controls, and covering up their actions, warrant a thorough investigation by appropriate authorities such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) or the FBI. According to the disclosure, DOGE staffers demanded unrestricted access to the NLRB's systems, installed opaque software that hid their activities, and turned off logging mechanisms designed to track user actions and detect potential threats. This evasive behavior, coupled with the significant spike in outbound data transfer observed, strongly suggests unauthorized and potentially illegal actions were taken to remove sensitive information from the NLRB's databases. The disclosed data could include confidential details about union organizing efforts, witness testimony in ongoing cases, proprietary business information, and personal data protected by federal privacy laws. The potential exposure of such sensitive information not only compromises the integrity of the NLRB's operations but also threatens the rights of workers, unions, and companies involved in labor disputes. Given the gravity of the allegations and the concerning technical evidence provided, a comprehensive investigation by cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies is warranted. CISA, with its mandate to protect federal networks and critical infrastructure, or the FBI, with its expertise in cybercrime investigations, would be well-positioned to examine the reported incident thoroughly. An impartial inquiry could shed light on the extent of the data breach, identify potential vulnerabilities exploited, and hold accountable any individuals or entities found responsible for unauthorized access or data exfiltration. Protecting the confidentiality of the NLRB's records and maintaining public trust in the agency's independence are of utmost importance.
