Employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are being harassed online after their identities were exposed, leading to a federal investigation. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin confirmed Monday that his office is examining whether any laws were broken in connection with the targeting of DOGE staff.
Martin stated that his team is working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to address the situation. “We also have our prosecutors preparing,” he said, suggesting that legal action may follow. While he did not name individuals responsible, he emphasized that certain acts appear to violate federal law.
The issue arose after Wired published the names of multiple DOGE employees, noting their young age and limited government experience. Their names were soon shared on X, where some users issued threats. Musk responded by stating, “You have committed a crime,” making it clear that he considered the exposure unlawful.
Martin, in a letter to Musk, assured him that his office would take all necessary steps to protect DOGE employees. “We will pursue any and all legal action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your people,” he wrote. He also criticized the previous administration for failing to act in similar circumstances.
Some argue that releasing the names of government employees is not a crime, while others believe the exposure was a deliberate effort to intimidate Musk’s team. The legal questions surrounding the matter remain under review.
Despite the controversy, Musk has continued to defend his hiring decisions, writing on X, “Time to confess: Media reports saying that @DOGE has some of the world’s best software engineers are in fact true.”
