POLISCOPE
Back to feed
Part ofcybersecurity →
FEDERALhearing transcript
High Impact

Congressional Hearing on OPM Cybersecurity and Background Investigation Security

Original title: IMPROVING SECURITY AND EFFICIENCY AT OPM AND THE NATIONAL BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU

January 1, 2017

cybersecuritydata breachOPMNational Background Investigations Bureaugovernment technologyinformation security

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

The Frame

What this does

The hearing addresses the security of federal personnel data following a major breach, focusing on whether the government is effectively modernizing its IT systems to protect sensitive background investigation records.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Federal Employees

Their personal data is stored within OPM systems, which are subject to the security measures discussed.

Office of Personnel Management

The agency is required to respond to oversight regarding its IT infrastructure and security protocols.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This hearing transcript documents a 2017 House Oversight Committee meeting regarding the security and efficiency of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the National Background Investigations Bureau. Lawmakers questioned agency officials about ongoing vulnerabilities, the use of outdated legacy computer systems, and strategies to prevent future data breaches.

Key Facts

  • The hearing took place on February 2, 2017, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
  • The committee investigated the status of OPM's cybersecurity two years after a major data breach.
  • Chairman Chaffetz questioned the continued use of legacy technology, specifically mentioning the Cobalt programming language.
  • The committee discussed the implementation of 'zero-trust' security models to prevent unauthorized access.
  • The hearing examined whether OPM is utilizing modern cybersecurity practices like dual-factor authentication and network segmentation.
  • The committee emphasized the critical role of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) in maintaining federal agency security.

Why It Matters

The hearing addresses the security of federal personnel data following a major breach, focusing on whether the government is effectively modernizing its IT systems to protect sensitive background investigation records.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was this hearing held?
To assess the security and efficiency of OPM and the National Background Investigations Bureau following a significant data breach.
What specific security concerns were raised?
Lawmakers expressed concern over the use of outdated legacy computer systems, the need for better , and the adoption of zero-trust security models.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Sponsors

Show 1 more sponsor

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Transition to Zero-Trust

The committee explicitly pushed for a shift toward a 'zero-trust' security model, indicating a change in expected federal cybersecurity standards.

Office of Personnel Management

Connected Entities

personDavid DeVries“Chief Information Officer, U.S. Office of Personnel Management”Map →
organizationNational Background Investigations Bureau“Bureau under OPM responsible for background checks”Map →
personKathleen McGettigan“Acting Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management”Map →
personCharles Phalen“Director, National Background Investigations Bureau”Map →
personCord Chase“Chief Information Security Officer, U.S. Office of Personnel Management”Map →
organizationOffice of Personnel Management“Federal agency responsible for personnel management and background investigation”Map →
personJason Chaffetz“Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform”Map →
personTerry Halvorsen“Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Defense”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment20
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record