Lawmaker complains Veterans Affairs Department’s cybersecurity improvements are painfully slow’ [Video]

WASHINGTON — Sensitive medical records of the nation’s 18 million military veterans could be at risk, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) cybersecurity approach remains “inadequate” and “unfocused.”

That assessment came Wednesday from the Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization.

Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Montana) said improvement in cybersecurity at the V.A. has been “painfully slow.”

“We need to see results and ensure accountability for everyone involved. We need to know what specific, measurable goals that V.A. is working on today that will make veterans data safer tomorrow,” he said.

That audit concluded that the V.A. “continues to face significant challenges meeting the requirements” of the Federal Information Security Modernization Act.

“Without proper safeguards these systems are vulnerable to intrusion by groups seeking to obtain this sensitive information or disrupt V.A. operations,” said Michael …