Website releases identifying data on tens of thousands of US homeland security workers

Distributed Denial of Secrets has publicly released online data identifying tens of thousands of workers at the US Department of Homeland Security, according to reports published on October 29, 2026. The Straits Times reported that the non-profit transparency group disclosed records on more than 40,000 employees; the Guardian put the total above 41,000 employees and contractors.¹²

Contact details and work assignments

The records include names, telephone numbers and email addresses, alongside job titles and email-group memberships, the reports said. According to the Guardian, more than 21,000 people identified in the disclosure work for Customs and Border Protection, while about 6,600 work for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.¹²

Both reports describe information pointing to assignments involving surveillance, special operations, computer forensics and undercover work. Some records corresponded with employees’ LinkedIn profiles, the Guardian reported, while other material described internal organisational structures and programmes that were not public. The Straits Times also reported that some records revealed previously undisclosed operations.¹²

Emma Best, a co-founder of Distributed Denial of Secrets, said hacktivist and journalist maia arson crimew had developed a tool for searching the released material. Best said its purpose was to “replace anonymity with accountability” and help journalists, people seeking government records and congressional oversight.¹²

Origin remains unverified

The disclosure was attributed to information obtained by an entity calling itself the Department of Peace. According to Best, that entity claimed to have collected the records from Okta’s sign-on service used by DHS. Reuters could not immediately substantiate the claimed connection to Okta, both reports said.¹²

Okta said it had no evidence that its systems or data had been compromised. DHS, according to the Straits Times, said it knew of a potential breach and was taking action to address it. The department said it would provide a public update once further information was available.¹²

Reuters could not immediately authenticate the complete collection. It did, however, match information about six named DHS employees against credit-bureau information and records from other breaches. It also confirmed telephone numbers and other details for three DHS employees. Those checks established matches within the material, rather than verifying the entire release.¹²

Earlier claims and disclosures

The Department of Peace argued that possessing DHS employees’ information was fair because the department held information about others. It also said it hoped the disclosure would help prevent further harm by DHS, according to the Guardian. In March, the entity had claimed responsibility for hacking DHS and publishing documents concerning outside-vendor contracts.¹²

The reports also described other government-data incidents. In September, ShinyHunters claimed to have stolen FBI records containing sensitive employment details and medical information about thousands of employees. The Straits Times reported that the Defence Department faced a class action in October after a breach exposed information about millions of serving and former military personnel.¹²