Southwest Montana News

Today, Chairman Matt Rosendale of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Technology Modernization led a hearing focused on the cybersecurity challenges facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The session, titled “VA Cybersecurity: Protecting Veteran Data from Evolving Threats,” highlighted the persistent threats to veterans' sensitive information.

In his opening statement, Chairman Rosendale addressed the frequent cyberattacks targeting VA's systems. He emphasized the growing sophistication and profitability of these crimes, underscoring the need for robust defenses. "The basic math tells us that many of the people in this room, or watching this hearing, have had their healthcare data stolen by a cyber-criminal," he stated.

Rosendale stressed the responsibility to safeguard vast amounts of medical, personal, and financial records held by VA and its contractors. He acknowledged that no internet-connected organization is entirely immune to cyber threats but insisted on proactive measures from VA. "We expect VA to understand their vulnerabilities and maintain every possible defense," he said. Additionally, he called for immediate detection and containment of breaches and timely notification to affected individuals.