The hacktivist collective Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets) has released a sweeping dataset containing personal information on more than 40,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees, including individuals tied to intelligence operations. The leak, made public Wednesday, marks one of the largest exposures of federal personnel data in recent years.
DDoSecrets did not name the source of the breach, instead attributing the leak to an anonymous entity it calls the “Department of Peace.” The group’s statement described the dataset as “massive in terms of both size and impact,” providing an unprecedented window into the agency’s internal structure and personnel assignments across divisions such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The release includes a searchable tool listing names, phone numbers, and email addresses for employees across DHS components, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Homeland Security Investigations. The tool also maps job titles and email distribution groups, enabling users to identify personnel involved in undercover work, special operations, and surveillance activities.
“It is a complete game changer for anyone investigating DHS, simplifying the identification of agents and their lines of command,” the statement continued. “It provides FOIA material for years to come.” The hackers said they specifically targeted officials responsible for overseeing covert operations, the government’s pursuit of leakers, and the administration’s expanding deportation programs.
DDoSecrets cofounder Emma Best framed the leak as an accountability measure, saying the group is “replacing the regime’s anonymity with accountability,” and that such disclosures serve as “a catalyst for investigations, empowering journalists, Congressional inquiries, legal challenges, community action and Freedom of Information Act requests.”
This is not the first time the “Department of Peace” has struck. In March, the same entity leaked roughly 6,000 DHS and ICE contracts with private universities and corporations, including Palantir, Microsoft, Oracle, and Anduril. At the time, the leaker said, “Why hack the DHS? I can think of a couple Pretti Good reasons! I’m releasing this because the DHS is killing us and people deserve to know which companies support them and what they’re working on.”
The latest breach comes amid a sharp escalation in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. According to figures from the Deportation Data Project, ICE conducted 49,571 arrests in July 2026—the highest monthly total of the president’s second term.
The leak also intensifies scrutiny of federal surveillance and the administration’s aggressive pursuit of leakers, a theme that has drawn sharp criticism from civil liberties advocates. DHS did not respond to requests for comment.
The exposure of personnel data raises serious security concerns, as it could aid foreign adversaries or malicious actors in targeting federal employees. However, transparency advocates argue that such disclosures are vital for public oversight, especially given the agency’s expanding role in immigration and domestic surveillance.
The release follows a series of high-profile data breaches and leaks affecting government agencies, including recent incidents involving wireless devices in secure facilities and AI agents probing federal websites. The DHS leak is expected to fuel further debate over the balance between national security and government transparency.
