Republican Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN.), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) wrote a letter to Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough after reports surfaced detailing some unnerving details regarding former Vice Presidential candidates JD Vance (R) and Tim Walz (D).
These reports uncovered that VA employees had improperly accessed the candidate's medical records, prompting the GOP senators to demand answers.
Their letter starts by sharing their "deep concern" over the unauthorized infiltration of the men's records.
"We write to express deep concern regarding the unauthorized access to the medical records of vice-presidential candidates Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz by numerous Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees," the letter began. "We urge you to swiftly address the actions of these individuals and to take steps to prevent similar future conduct."
The GOP senators continued by saying that the alleged actions of the VA questioned their "effectiveness" and security protocols.
“Nine million veterans rely on the VA to protect their medical records. Recent reports indicate that at least a dozen VA employees improperly accessed Vance and Walz’s records using their VA computers in July and August 2024," Sens. Rubio, Cruz, and others wrote. "The actions of those employees call into question the effectiveness of the VA's internal security protocols, particularly given that the employees successfully accessed the records of two extremely high-profile veterans."
Furthermore, Sens. Rubio, Cruz, and others cited the rising political climate as a rationale for more security of files such as these.
“Given the high-stakes political climate, this breach also raises the possibility that VA personnel accessed these records for political purposes. Regardless of their motives, these employees’ flagrant violation of veterans’ medical privacy calls into question whether veterans can trust the VA to protect their confidential information," they wrote.
The senators asked the following questions, provided a final comment, and demanded an answer to their questions by November 15.
- Does the VA have a system to designate certain veterans as “high-profile”? If so, what criteria does the VA use to make that determination, and what additional safeguards are implemented to protect the records of such veterans?
- What steps has the VA already taken to prevent unauthorized access to veterans’ medical records by VA personnel in light of the July and August 2024 breaches?
- What additional measures will you implement to prevent similar future breaches?
- Without rendering judgment on the actions of the employees under investigation, what administrative measures do you deem appropriate to impose on VA employees that improperly access veterans’ medical records?
"The repeated, unauthorized access of veterans' medical records by VA employees is a serious breach of trust that demands swift and decisive action. We urge you to act immediately to safeguard the medical privacy of every veteran in the VA system and to prevent such activity in the future."
