Musk's DOGE Accused of Hacking NLRB Systems, Raising National Security Risks

Here's what they are accused of doing, and the laws they may have broken

The following is based on publicly reported facts and allegations; readers are encouraged to review the original sources and form their own conclusions.

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Let’s talk about something you weren’t supposed to see.

While the headlines were chasing Trump ignoring SCOTUS opinions and the VP fumbling and dropping the college football national championship trophy, something deeply disturbing slipped under the radar, and it should set every alarm bell ringing.

According to a detailed report by NPR, Elon Musk’s hand-picked “Department of Government Efficiency” — known as DOGE — a group of twenty-something hackers, quietly walked into the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and accessed its confidential files.

Not by subpoena.

Not by court order.

By simply… being handed the keys.

We’re not talking about an IT audit. We’re talking about unrestricted access to labor complaints, whistleblower affidavits, and union plans, the kind of information that could tank worker protections and tilt power toward the billionaire class for good.

This isn’t efficiency. This is surveillance dressed up as reform.

Let’s break down what happened, what laws may have been broken, and why this moment could become a constitutional crisis in plain clothes.

What Actually Happened?

In a whistleblower report now corroborated by NPR and others, an NLRB IT staffer named Daniel Berulis sounded the alarm.

His story isn’t standing alone in the dark. It’s backed by internal files and validated by a panel of 11 independent tech experts — some from federal agencies, others from the private sector. All of them reviewed the evidence.

In total, NPR interviewed more than 30 individuals spanning government, cybersecurity, labor, and law enforcement — and what they said was chilling. They each raised red flags about how DOGE, under Trump’s direction, might be mishandling, or outright exploiting, sensitive federal data. The bulk of what follows is drawn directly from NPR’s exclusive interviews and the whistleblower’s formal complaint.

Here’s what’s being reported and alleged:

- DOGE staff accessed internal NLRB systems with almost no restriction.

- They copied over 10 gigabytes of data including private union organizing materials, corporate legal filings, and sensitive worker affidavits.

- They disabled digital tracking and deleted access logs to cover their trail.

- A suspicious login from a Russian IP address was detected during this period using valid credentials, a login that would’ve been accepted if not for location blocking.

- When Berulis and a colleague tried to report this to CISA (the federal cybersecurity watchdog), their concerns were blocked by senior officials.

- Then things turned personal. Berulis received a threatening note with surveillance photos of him and his family. He also was followed by a drown overhead.

Think about that. A federal employee trying to protect your rights allegedly got stalked for doing his job.

Why Does This Matter?

Because the NLRB isn’t just another federal agency. It’s the firewall between everyday workers and unchecked corporate power. It’s where:

- Employees file complaints about illegal firings.

- Whistleblowers expose workplace abuse.

- Unions plan strategy to negotiate fair pay and benefits.

And right now, Musk’s companies, Tesla and SpaceX, are under NLRB investigation for union-busting and labor violations. Which means:

Elon Musk’s government arm may have accessed sensitive case files… about Elon Musk’s own companies.

If that sounds like corruption, it’s because it is.

What Laws May Have Been Broken?

Let’s drop the legalese and go straight to the point: this isn’t just shady, it may be criminal.

Here’s what could be in play:

Based on the NPR report and related investigative findings, several potential federal crimes may have been violated in the incident involving Elon Musk’s DOGE accessing sensitive NLRB data. Here’s a breakdown of the likely criminal violations:

1. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) – 18 U.S.C. § 1030

Potential Violation: Unauthorized access or exceeding authorized access to obtain information from a protected computer (such as government systems).

Felony if: Done knowingly and results in damage or the transfer of classified/confidential data.

2. Obstruction of Justice – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1503, 1512

Potential Violation: If DOGE officials deleted logs, disabled monitoring tools, or intimidated whistleblowers (e.g., the threatening note and surveillance photos), this could qualify as:

Tampering with evidence,

Intimidating or retaliating against a witness or informant,

Impeding a federal investigation.

3. Theft of Government Property or Records – 18 U.S.C. § 641

Potential Violation: Unauthorized copying or removal of confidential government records (such as labor complaints, union strategies, and affidavits) for use by private individuals or corporations.

4. Conspiracy to Commit an Offense or Defraud the United States – 18 U.S.C. § 371

Potential Violation: If multiple DOGE or administration officials coordinated to access or exfiltrate data for Musk’s or his companies’ benefit, this could amount to a criminal conspiracy.

5. Wire Fraud – 18 U.S.C. § 1343

Potential Violation: If any false representations were made through electronic means to obtain access or misappropriate data from federal systems, it could constitute wire fraud.

6. Unlawful Surveillance or Harassment – Various federal and state statutes

Potential Violation: Sending a threatening note with surveillance photos to a whistleblower may violate laws against stalking, harassment, and retaliation.

7. Conflict of Interest / Abuse of Public Office – 18 U.S.C. §§ 208, 201

Potential Violation: If Musk’s administration used government access for personal or corporate gain—especially in matters where Tesla or SpaceX were under NLRB investigation—it may trigger ethics violations and federal criminal liability.

Why You Should Be Outraged

This isn’t about left or right. This is about protecting the foundation of democracy, fair treatment under the law, transparency in government, and checks on power.

Because if a billionaire’s handpicked agency can:

- Raid federal labor files,

- Spy on workers and whistleblowers,

- And use that data to benefit their own corporate empire...

...what’s next?

Today it’s the unions. Tomorrow it could be the DOJ. Or your tax, social security or health records. Or your vote.

This is not some future dystopia. It’s right now. And it’s happening under the radar while the circus rages elsewhere.

What Needs to Happen Now

We need action — not press releases.

Here’s what everyday Americans should demand immediately:

1. A full congressional investigation into DOGE’s actions at the NLRB, with whistleblower protections and subpoena power.

2. Immediate suspension of all DOGE access to protected agency systems until cybersecurity reviews are completed.

3. Independent forensic audits of all data accessed, copied, or transferred, including any outside IP address access.

4. Public hearings to ask the hard questions: Who authorized this? Who benefits? And how do we make sure it never happens again?

Final Thoughts: This Isn’t Efficiency. It’s Exploitation.

Elon Musk didn’t run for office. But his reach now extends into labor policy, federal databases, and allegedly covert operations targeting the very people the government is supposed to protect.

The Department of Government Efficiency is starting to look like a Department of Government Extraction, stripping power, privacy, and protection from the people to pad the power of the elite.

So now you know.

What will you do about it?

Speak up. Share this. Demand answers. Because silence is compliance — and democracy doesn't survive on auto-pilot.

Want to know how to reach out to your elected representative? No problem. I share approaches and contact information in, How to Make Your Voice Heard: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Politicians to Listen to YOU and Take Action.

Mitch Jackson, Esq. | links

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