The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is investigating a potentially extensive data breach that may have revealed the identities and contact details of tens of thousands of employees, sources told Fox News.
Sources familiar with the information described the suspected breach as a “catastrophic” security incident. They said the exposed data may include the names, job titles, work locations and, in some cases, phone numbers and email addresses of about 40,000 DHS employees and contractors, including approximately 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel.
The records also reportedly contain information linked to more than 20,000 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees, including members of the Border Patrol.
Several sources confirmed that portions of the data appear to be authentic.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin (C) speaks during a press conference at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters on October 09, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Distributed Denial of Secrets, a website known for publishing leaked data, said Wednesday that it had released information about DHS employees.
Fox News independently verified that the leaked material includes the names of multiple undercover ICE agents operating in various parts of the country.
An anti-fascist hacking group calling itself the “Department of Peace” claimed it was responsible for obtaining the information.
“DHS is aware of a potential breach and is actively working to address the situation swiftly and effectively,” a department spokesperson told Fox News.
FIND OUT MORE: The moment Beau Lamarre-Condon’s police friend realised he was a suspect
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE agents walk down a street during a multi-agency targeted enforcement operation in Chicago, Ill., on Jan. 26, 2025. (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We take all security threats against our employees and officers seriously and will work to ensure all are properly protected,” the statement continued. “We will update the public when more information is available.”
Distributed Denial of Secrets co-founder Emma Best said the group had created a tool enabling the public to search the data, describing its purpose as replacing “anonymity with accountability.”
In a statement, the Department of Peace said DHS employees “have our information, so it’s only fair that we have theirs.” The group added that it hoped the release “can be used to limit further harm by the DHS and supports all efforts in that direction.”
The alleged DHS breach comes as concerns continue to grow over the protection of government personnel records.
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) headquarters in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Last month, a breach involving a Pentagon personnel database exposed sensitive personal information belonging to more than 2.76 million living U.S. military and civilian personnel, along with records concerning 294,000 deceased individuals.
A Pentagon official previously confirmed to Fox News that unauthorized users accessed unencrypted files containing Social Security numbers and military or civilian employment information between October 2025 and July 2026.