Oops: government secret docs accidentally left out

By RBC Newsroom — April 21, 2025

The U.S. government has accidentally shared thousands of sensitive documents—including White House blueprints—with over 11,000 federal employees. Yikes.

Here’s what happened:

The General Services Administration (GSA), which is like the U.S. government’s IT department, had a big folder on Google Drive. But someone forgot to lock it. That meant all sorts of files—some showing detailed layouts of government buildings and internal financial plans—were just sitting there, ready for any of those 11,200 people to peek at. Think of it like your school accidentally emailing your report card to the entire student body… and the janitor.

The digital mess began all the way back in 2021, but it was only discovered this month during a routine cyber audit—basically a check-up for computers. No hacking. No fancy cybercriminals. Just one very unlocked folder floating around like a rogue balloon at a birthday party.

The good news? Officials say there were no classified or top secret documents spilled. So, no launch codes or Area 51 alien selfies were involved. Phew.

Still, experts are raising eyebrows, pointing out that even “non-classified” materials—like building plans and contact info—can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Security analysts are now reviewing how such a simple mistake lasted four whole years without anyone noticing. It’s like forgetting your lunch in the fridge and realizing it in senior year.

Government officials promise they’re tightening up digital locks, educating staff, and maybe even using stronger passwords than “1234password.” One spokesperson assured the public, “We’re taking this seriously.” Translation: “We really, really wish this hadn’t happened.”

In the end, this might serve as a gentle reminder to everyone—government or not—double-check your settings before hitting “Share.”