Employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are facing harassment after their names were published online, prompting a strong response from federal prosecutors. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin confirmed Monday that his office is investigating whether laws were broken in the targeting of DOGE staff.
Martin made it clear that legal action could be on the way. “We also have our prosecutors preparing,” he stated, adding that his office has reached out to the FBI and other agencies. Although Martin did not identify specific individuals responsible for the exposure, he suggested that certain actions may have violated federal law.
The controversy began when Wired published the names of several DOGE employees, revealing that many are young engineers with no prior government experience. Soon after, their names appeared on X, where some users made threats. Musk responded by stating, “You have committed a crime,” warning that the exposure of his staff could have legal consequences.
Martin sent a letter to Musk reinforcing his commitment to protecting DOGE workers. “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 when government employees were previously targeted.
Some have argued that revealing the names of government employees does not constitute doxing, noting that public officials often have fewer privacy protections. Others, however, view the release of the DOGE employees’ names as a coordinated attack meant to intimidate Musk’s team and disrupt their work.
As the investigation continues, Musk has dismissed concerns about his hiring choices, writing on X, “Time to confess: Media reports saying that @DOGE has some of the world’s best software engineers are in fact true.”
