What Are They Waiting For??

That a major hack of the sensitive personal information of more than 21 million federal and contractor personnel was, in many peoples' eyes, a watershed moment, the fact that we are now a month out and no action has been taken to at least provide temporary protection for those impacted is almost worse.  After all, the government, appropriately, moved quickly when the first breach of 4 million plus records was revealed. But here we are, four weeks after revelation of the much larger breach, which the administration is fairly confident involved a significant exfiltration of information, and the individuals have yet to be notified and no short or long term protections have yet been defined or offered.  This despite the Administration's explicit commitment to providing everyone impacted by the second breach the same protections as were provided to the first group. Moreover, while OPM initially indicated that it would take two weeks to get things in order (call centers, etc.) to provide support and information, the other day, OPM announced a delay in awarding the new contract for these and related mitigation actions.

It's not difficult to understand that this enormous breach requires a uniquely broad response; and that is not something that happens overnight.  But many of us are confused as to why existing contract vehicles were not immediately tapped for interim coverages, even as the final details of the ultimate length and scope of coverage is being hammered out within OPM and between the Administration and congress.  It's not fair to the more than 20 million people who have no way of knowing how vulnerable they might be and what kinds of support they will be given.

It's with that in mind that I sent a letter to Acting OPM Director Beth Cobert seeking some answers and action on behalf of the millions of contractor employees who are, or potentially are, among the victims of this breach.  That letter can be found at: Acting OPM Director Beth Cobert yesterday.

Beth Cobert is one of the administration's most talented leaders and managers. Let's hope she can quickly get her arms around this mess. There is a lot at stake.