Federal authorities are taking action after employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were targeted online. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin confirmed that his office is investigating potential legal violations tied to the harassment of DOGE workers.
Martin stated that his team is working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. “We also have our prosecutors preparing,” he said, adding that legal consequences could soon follow. Though Martin did not specify individuals responsible, he signaled that the investigation is moving quickly.
The controversy began when Wired published the names of several DOGE employees, emphasizing their young age and lack of government experience. Soon after, their names circulated on X, where threats followed. Musk reacted to the situation by writing, “You have committed a crime,” suggesting that exposing his employees’ identities was unlawful.
In a letter directed at Musk, Martin reinforced his office’s commitment to protecting DOGE employees from harassment. “We will pursue any and all legal action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your people,” he wrote, drawing a contrast between his approach and that of the previous administration.
Some argue that government employees have fewer privacy protections, while others claim that revealing the names of DOGE staff was a deliberate effort to intimidate Musk’s team. The debate over whether this exposure qualifies as doxing continues.
Musk has stood by his employees throughout the ordeal, posting on X, “Time to confess: Media reports saying that @DOGE has some of the world’s best software engineers are in fact true.”
