The US homeland security department said it was aware of a potential data breach and is actively working to address the situation swiftly and effectively. (EPA Images pic)WASHINGTON: The leak website Distributed Denial of Secrets said on Wednesday it has released data on more than 40,000 homeland security department (DHS) employees, including details about officials working in sensitive fields such as surveillance and human intelligence.

DHS said in a statement it was "aware of a potential breach and is actively working to address the situation swiftly and effectively".

The agency said it was working to ensure its employees were properly protected and would update the public "when more information is available”.