Join Now

Want news that’s as fresh as your morning coffee? Join our community and stay in the know!

Lawmakers want VA to better secure records after campaign violations

Date:

Share:

Even though the election is over, Republican lawmakers still want answers from Department of Veterans Affairs officials on how they plan to better secure candidates’ veterans medical and benefits records ahead of future campaigns.

Earlier this fall, VA officials confirmed that the Department of Justice is investigating several federal staffers for improperly accessing the veterans records of vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance amid the contentious summer campaign.

In a statement Friday, VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said that department leaders are continuing to work with investigators on the matter and “will take swift and appropriate action to discipline any VA employees who sought to improperly access veteran records.”

But in a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough earlier this month, a group of eight Republican senators led by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz expressed concern that the matter remains unsettled, even after votes were counted in the presidential contest.

“The repeated, unauthorized access of veterans’ medical records by VA employees is a serious breach of trust that demands swift and decisive action,” the group wrote. “We urge you to act immediately to safeguard the medical privacy of every veteran in the VA system and to prevent such activity in the future.”

The senators asked for more information on safeguards and policy changes put in place following the security breach, to ensure similar intrusions don’t occur again.

Hayes said that following notification of the allegations of improper accessing of the records, VA leaders limited access to all records regarding Walz’ and Vance’s use of department services. They also stepped up monitoring on those files and distributed a staff-wide message warning about improper viewing of veterans’ private information.

“Every VA employee is required to take extensive yearly training on when and how they are allowed to access veteran medical records, if at all,” Hayes said. “These trainings also make clear the stark consequences of failure to properly use these records, including discipline that could include firing and reporting to law enforcement authorities.”

Vance, now the vice president-elect, spoke on the campaign trail about using VA health care after leaving the active-duty ranks. He served in the Marine Corps for four years. Walz, the current governor of Minnesota, served for 24 years in the Army National Guard.

Federal officials did not say how many employees accessed the vice presidential candidates’ records. The senators in their letter suggested as many as a dozen VA employees may have viewed them, without proper justification.

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.

Unmatched Baby Essentials

baby

━ more like this

US troops, Afghan allies say executive orders endanger their families

Editor’s note: For this story, Military Times spoke to multiple U.S. service members, as well as Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war...

Tracking Trump: His actions on education 

Since taking office Jan. 20, President Donald Trump has unleashed a flurry of orders and actions designed to reshape the federal government’s role in...

VA leadership nominee grilled over recent department layoffs

Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary nominee Paul Lawrence faced harsh questioning from Democrats during his confirmation hearing Wednesday not for his plans for future reforms...

Could Play Boost Students’ Math Performance?

When he teaches a math class, Tom Fisher wants students to feel confused. At least, he wants them to feel that way occasionally and...

DOGE is getting lists of military’s probationary workers from Pentagon

Department of Government Efficiency staffers were at the Pentagon on Tuesday and receiving lists of the military’s probationary employees, U.S. officials said.However, it was...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here