Daily Press Writer
MONTROSE — U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, wrote a heated letter requesting an investigation into the Veterans Administration upon learning the results of an audit revealing millions of dollars wasted on computer security.
|
Advertisement |
“He would like to see (Veterans Secretary Jim Nicholson) testify in front of the committee. He thinks there needs to be an investigation and he wants answers,” Salazar spokeswoman Tara Trujillo said in a phone interview.
The computer security contract was awarded to the Veterans Affairs Security Team in 2002. VAST was a group of companies whose purpose was to fend off computer hackers.
Based in Texas, the group was intended to be comprised of small businesses. However, large businesses such as Compaq, SAIC and SIGNAL were added to the team but not identified as members, according to the report by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
“Additionally, the contract exploded from $100 million to $250 million with virtually no oversight or procedures in place to ensure effective implementation,” Salazar said in his letter to Filner. “I am outraged by these revelations.”
He said the data breach involving about 26 million veterans’ sensitive personal information in May could have been avoided if the VA had properly managed the VAST contract.
“This all happened when Democrats were in the minority,” Trujillo said. “I know that we weren’t in control at the time.”
Salazar introduced legislation last summer that would have provided financial assistance to any veteran harmed by identity theft. However, it didn’t pass.
The report also found that VAST made overpayments as high as $8.5 million and didn’t conduct required background checks on the contract employees.
The contract, intended to last 10 years, expired after less than three in 2005 because of a lack of finances.
“When the contract was allowed to expire, VA was forced back into a high risk situation, relying on a less than world-class monitoring system,” according to the report.
Salazar said this is yet another example of how the Bush Administration failed its veterans as well as the American people.
“We must demand accountability and provide the necessary oversight that has been lacking by this administration and previous Congresses,” his letter said. “I strongly urge you to take action and begin an investigation of this apparent carelessness.”
Contact Robert Allen via e-mail at roberta@montrosepress.com
• Be respectful of others, the writer and the subjects in the story.
• Be relevant. Keep your comments on point.
• See the guidelines for TalkAbout. Perhaps your comment is best for that community forum, available from the home page, instead of commenting on a particular story.
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. Montrose Press is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in montrosepress.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Montrose Press. Montrose Press does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Montrose Press spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!