Our government may ask men and women to put their lives on the line to protect our freedom, but doesn't seem willing to put the same effort into protecting the personal information of these same individuals.
Over the years, there have been a number of injustices done by the government against some of this country's bravest individuals. The inferior conditions at some of the nation's veteran's hospitals, issues around Agent Orange in Vietnam, acknowledging the devastating impact of post-traumatic stress in the lives of war veterans, and I'm sure several more affronts that could be added.
Last year, more than 26 million veterans had their personal information put at risk in 2006 when a laptop was stolen from the Maryland home of a VA employee. The computer was later recovered and no data was lost.
Since then, the Veterans Administration had vowed to roll out new security programs, reorganize the agency’s information technology structure, centralize information technology policies and install tighter security measures.
Yet, a recent report in
FederalTimes.com reveals an almost "ho-hum" attitude towards actually accomplishing these improvements.
“We had a crisis situation 17 months ago,” said Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., today at a hearing of the House Veterans Affairs committee. “Everything just kind of goes on as if it’s a normal situation, … and there’s not a sense of urgency we had last year and the fear that was so rampant throughout the veterans’ community that their records may be missing. … We need to have a fast response on this.”
VA has not implemented 20 of the 22 data security recommendations made by its inspector general last year and two of four recommendations made by GAO, a Sept. 19 GAO report found.
It is incredible to think that so little progress could be accomplished by such a large government agency in a year.
As Rep. Filner said at the conclusion of the story, "Without goals, without timelines, and just by pointing to the next fiscal year it never gets done." We expect the men and women serving us now and when serving in the past to operate with urgency and intensity every day. Those responsible for protecting their personal information at the VA need to serve with similar intensity.
Contributed by Mark Tordoff
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