Full Breakdown
NLRB Whistleblower Claims Data Breach by DOGE; Car Brake Sabotage Alleged
6/3/2026, 1:09:31 AM
Whistleblower Allegations and Alleged Data Compromise
On April 14, 2025, Dan Berulis, an IT staffer at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), filed a Congressional whistleblower complaint asserting that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) accessed NLRB systems, compromised agency data, and attempted exfiltration. He also reported login attempts from a Russian IP address shortly after the alleged access.
Background on DOGE and Musk’s Role
DOGE, described as a government entity orchestrated by billionaire Elon Musk, has been tasked with sweeping across federal agencies, terminating employees, and accessing technical systems with limited oversight. These actions have drawn scrutiny from federal workers and watchdog groups.
Timeline of Key Events
- April 14, 2025: Berulis files the whistleblower complaint.
- April 15, 2025: NPR publishes an article naming Berulis.
- April 17, 2025: Berulis files a defamation lawsuit in Washington, D.C.
- April 19, 2025, 8:06 p.m.: Musk reshared a post by Mario Nawfal stating DOGE was “cleared.”
- April 20, 2025: Berulis discovers his car’s brake lines cut after a sudden stop.
Official Statements
Elon Musk responded on X, stating the whistleblower claim was false and constituted a serious crime. The reshared post from Mario Nawfal asserted DOGE was cleared and called for the Department of Justice to investigate Berulis. No comment from the NLRB, the Department of Justice, or other agencies appears in the sources.
Criticism and Opposition
The narrative was amplified by @amuse, an account identified as regularly sharing misleading claims. Critics argue Musk’s retweet serves to discredit the whistleblower and may intimidate further disclosures.
On-the-Ground Incident
Berulis reported that while driving near Maryland, his vehicle failed to slow at a stop sign, collided with the sign, and he later found the brake lines cut. He linked the sabotage to threats, including a note with drone-taken photos of his dog.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
The sources provide no independent verification of the alleged data exfiltration, the Russian IP login attempts, or forensic evidence confirming the brake-line sabotage. No comment from the NLRB or the Department of Justice is included, leaving key factual gaps.
Verbatim Quotes
- “On April 14, 2025, Dan Berulis, an IT staffer at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), filed a Congressional whistleblower complaint with an extraordinary and urgent claim: The so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had seemingly compromised the agency’s data and appeared to be exfiltrating it out of the NLRB entirely.” — Dan Berulis
- “Filing a deliberately false whistleblower claim is a serious crime.” — Elon Musk
- “ The story had originally been circulated by @amuse, an account that has regularly shared misleading claims and misinformation and is followed by influential people like Musk and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.” — source description
Next Steps
Berulis’s defamation lawsuit proceeds in federal court. The Department of Justice has been mentioned as a potential investigative body, though no formal inquiry is documented. Congressional oversight committees may seek briefings on DOGE’s activities and the whistleblower’s allegations.
