A federal whistleblower who raised concerns about alleged security breaches involving Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, claims he narrowly escaped serious injury after someone tampered with his vehicle's brakes days after he publicly disclosed his allegations.
According to court filings and reports first detailed by Wired, Daniel Berulis, an information technology employee with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleges he became the target of intimidation and harassment after reporting what he believed were improper activities involving sensitive government data.
Berulis filed a formal whistleblower complaint on April 14, 2025, alleging that DOGE personnel improperly accessed or compromised NLRB systems containing sensitive information. Among his claims were reports of unusual login attempts, including some allegedly originating from an IP address located in Russia.
The following day, Berulis publicly discussed his allegations in an interview with NPR, drawing national attention to his claims about DOGE, the controversial government reform initiative closely associated with Musk.
According to court records, Berulis says he began receiving threats before and after making his allegations public. He reported finding a note left at his residence containing photographs of him walking his dog. The images appeared to have been taken from above, leading him to suspect drone surveillance.
Five days after his complaint became public, Berulis was driving to visit family in Maryland when his vehicle allegedly became uncontrollable. According to a police report cited in court documents, he was unable to slow the vehicle and crashed into a stop sign.
A subsequent inspection by a mechanic reportedly found evidence suggesting deliberate tampering. Court records state that the brake system appeared to have been cut, while sensors connected to the driver's side airbag system had allegedly been removed. The mechanic reportedly found wires spliced together in a manner that prevented the vehicle's warning systems from alerting the driver to the missing safety equipment.
Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects in connection with the alleged tampering, and no criminal charges have been announced.
The allegations have emerged amid an increasingly contentious legal battle between Berulis and Musk.
Berulis has filed a defamation lawsuit against the billionaire entrepreneur, alleging that Musk's social media posts exposed him to threats and placed him in physical danger.
The lawsuit centers on statements Musk made on X, formerly Twitter, after Berulis' allegations became public. Musk reposted claims suggesting DOGE had been cleared of wrongdoing and warned that filing a false whistleblower complaint could constitute a serious crime.
"Filing a deliberately false whistleblower claim is a serious crime," Musk wrote in one post.
According to the lawsuit, responses to Musk's post included comments demanding prosecution, imprisonment, arrest, and violence against Berulis. One reply that drew particular attention stated, "Snitches get stitches."
Berulis argues in court filings that Musk's statements falsely implied he had committed criminal misconduct and encouraged hostile reactions from Musk's large online following. The lawsuit claims the resulting attention substantially increased his risk of harassment and physical harm.
Musk has denied wrongdoing and has continued to challenge Berulis' allegations.
After Wired reported on the alleged vehicle sabotage, Musk cited findings from the NLRB Inspector General's office, stating on X that investigators "lacked a reasonable belief" that Berulis had disclosed a violation of law, rule, or regulation. Musk said the inspector general's office had closed its review.
The closure of the inspector general review does not resolve the broader legal disputes surrounding Berulis' allegations, nor does it address claims regarding the alleged vehicle tampering.
The case has become one of the most high-profile disputes involving DOGE, a federal restructuring initiative that has generated significant controversy over government transparency, data access, cybersecurity practices, and the role of private-sector executives in public administration.
As of Friday, neither federal investigators nor local law enforcement agencies had publicly linked the alleged vehicle sabotage to any individual or organization. The allegations remain under investigation, and many of the claims outlined in Berulis' lawsuit have yet to be tested in court.
The whistleblower case, the defamation lawsuit, and questions surrounding the alleged sabotage are expected to continue drawing national attention as legal proceedings move forward.
