Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) has had it with OPM Director Katherine Archuleta. During a congressional hearing, it was revealed that she had failed to implement cybersecurity measures recommended by the Agency Inspector General Michael Esser.
“This cyber hack is the largest in our nation’s history and will have implications for years, if not decades, to come,” Rep. Meadows said.
“Consider the likelihood that intelligence and military officials will be blackmailed, bribed, and intimidated with the incredibly personal information they have entrusted to the U.S. government. Individuals with Top Secret (TS/SCI) security clearances are required to provide information on arrest records, lawsuits, drug or alcohol problems, divorces, bankruptcies and more – much of which may have been compromised.”
He laid the blame on Director Archuleta for her unwillingness to prioritize the safety of OPM’s systems and the sensitive data of millions of federal employees.
“OPM officials were well aware of the vulnerabilities within the agency’s IT security systems, yet failed to address them. Under Director Archuleta’s leadership, OPM disregarded an inspector general’s recommendations to improve its cybersecurity infrastructure, and now millions of federal workers, including military officials, are having to pay the price for the Director’s unwillingness to address the issue.”
Rep. Meadows demands that action be taken. He believes that Director Archuleta needs to be fired and replaced by someone willing to make cyber-security a top priority.
“It is outrageous that after the biggest data breach in our nation’s history, OPM has yet to fire a single individual. It is time that Director Archuleta step down and be replaced with someone prepared to immediately address cybersecurity vulnerabilities at the agency.”
Director Archuleta had said, upon being sworn in, that cyber-security was her top priority. Rep. Meadows called that into question during the hearing, saying: “Protecting federal workers could not have been your highest priority. Because there were competing priorities and you said it was better that you continue on with the others versus protecting the federal workforce.”
See Rep. Meadows during the congressional hearing below: