Palmer Calls for More Transparency, Increased Cybersecurity in the Wake of OPM Data Breach

Press Release

Congressman Gary Palmer, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, questioned government officials at a hearing on the recent data breach of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). On June 4, OPM announced a data breach that affected approximately four million former and current government employees. However, the hearing confirmed that the breach may have been much larger and many more people's personal information may be at risk.

"The breach of data at OPM is a major blow to America's national security, as well as the personal security of millions of Americans. Also troubling is that OPM has not been transparent concerning the number of people at risk or who is at risk due to this breach," Palmer said.

"Members of my Congressional staff received letters in the mail saying their information may have been compromised. Yet neither of them fit OPM's publicly announced criteria for who is at risk. OPM needs to take immediate action to increase safeguards on this information, minimize the damage from this breach and be straightforward with Congress and the American people, particularly those who are now at risk due to this breach."

Source