A former aide to Vice President Kamala Harris is under criminal investigation for allegedly trying to exploit a government buyout offer from Elon Musk. Nathaniel Segal, who previously worked as a Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor to Harris, is accused of forging documents in an attempt to secure a financial package from the Deferred Resignation Program, which offers up to $200,000 to eligible employees willing to leave their positions.
The investigation is looking into whether Segal’s placement at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) involved illegal actions by high-ranking officials, including Harris and Lina Khan, the chair of the FTC. Segal was appointed as Deputy Chief Technology Officer at the FTC just two days before Donald Trump took office, a move that raised eyebrows among Trump administration officials. They claim that Segal’s hiring was managed in a way to bypass personnel and ethics rules, making it difficult for the incoming administration to terminate him.
Segal’s troubles began to escalate in mid-February when he attempted to claim benefits from the buyout program, despite missing the deadline and not having been offered the buyout initially. He reportedly submitted a doctored document to support his claim. The Department of Justice has received a referral from the FTC regarding this alleged scheme and is investigating the matter broadly.
Complications arose when Segal was classified as a non-political civil servant, which would provide him with greater job security against potential layoffs under the new administration. When the Trump administration sought to clarify Segal’s employment status, they were informed that he was indeed a political appointee and did not meet the criteria for civil service protections.
As the situation unfolded, Segal expressed concern about his job security when the FTC informed him he would need to serve a probationary period. Shortly after, he claimed to have accepted the buyout offer, but the Office of Personnel Management had no record of this acceptance. When asked for proof, Segal provided a screenshot of an email he claimed to have sent but failed to provide the actual email requested by the FTC.
On February 26, after learning that a lawyer from the agency would be present in a meeting about his situation, Segal abruptly resigned. His career has included roles in the Obama administration and various private sector positions, including at major firms like Goldman Sachs and Bain Capital.
Segal’s educational background includes degrees from Yale, Harvard, and Stanford. He has also been active in alumni associations and diversity initiatives. As the investigation continues, the implications of Segal’s actions and the possible involvement of high-ranking officials are drawing attention.