Fired cybersecurity chief for Veterans Affairs site warns that health and financial data is at risk
Source: US News and World Report/AP
Feb. 25, 2025, at 5:38 p.m.
BOSTON (AP) — Sensitive financial and health data belonging to millions of veterans and stored on a benefits website is at risk of being stolen or otherwise compromised, according to a federal employee tasked with cybersecurity who was recently fired as part of massive government-wide cuts.
The warning comes from Jonathan Kamens, who led cybersecurity efforts for VA.gov — an online portal for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and services used by veterans, their caregivers and families. Kamens was fired Feb. 14 and said he doesn’t believe his role will be filled, leaving the site particularly vulnerable.
“Given how the government has been functioning for the last month, I don’t think the people at VA ... are going to be able to replace me,” Kamens told The Associated Press Monday evening. “I think they’re going to be lacking essential oversight over cybersecurity processes for VA.gov.”
Kamens said he was hired over a year ago by the U.S. Digital Service, whose employees’ duties have been integrated into presidential adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which is leading the downsizing effort. Kamens was a digital services expert and the VA site’s information security lead when he was fired by email at night, along with about 40 other USDS employees, he said.
Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/massachusetts/articles/2025-02-25/fired-cybersecurity-chief-for-veterans-affairs-site-warns-that-health-and-financial-data-is-at-risk