Senators are being urged by watchdog groups to meticulously examine Tanya Bradsher, President Biden's nominee for Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Concerns stem from Bradsher's oversight of the VA's Integrated Enterprise Workflow Solution (VIEWS) system, which has been flagged for security vulnerabilities exposing veterans' personal information.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) initiated an investigation into VIEWS nearly a year ago following whistleblower reports. Despite a 60-day deadline, the VA, under the leadership of Secretary Denis McDonough and Bradsher, has repeatedly requested extensions. Recent disclosures indicate the private information of veterans remains accessible within VIEWS, raising concerns about potential data breaches.
Senator Charles Grassley has also demanded answers regarding Bradsher's role in the VIEWS system's security failures. Grassley highlighted that the system, under Bradsher's purview, contains sensitive veteran information accessible to thousands of VA employees without a need-to-know basis. This raises questions about compliance with federal data privacy laws.
Bradsher, a 20-year Army veteran with experience in public affairs roles at the White House, Defense Department, and Department of Homeland Security, addressed electronic health records during her confirmation hearing but did not face questions about the VIEWS system. Watchdog groups emphasize the importance of scrutinizing her record in protecting electronic records, given her potential responsibility for the VA's electronic health record modernization program.
A certified fraud examiner and former VA program manager, Peter C. Rizzo, has also raised concerns about the VIEWS system's deficiencies and Bradsher's awareness of the issues. Rizzo claims to have directly reported these concerns to Bradsher's office in July 2022, but no corrective action has been taken. He alleges that thousands of users can access VIEWS without re-authentication after initial login, highlighting a significant security vulnerability.
The watchdog groups' letter also raises concerns beyond VIEWS, citing Bradsher's involvement in other issues, including conflicts of interest and whistleblower retaliation within the VA. They urge the Senate committee to thoroughly vet Bradsher's record and consider these concerns before confirming her nomination.
