VA Data Theft Numbers Grow: Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson said June 3 that a subsequent independent review into the May 3 data theft indicates that personal information on up to 50,000 active and reserve personnel could have been compromised, in addition to that of the original 26.5 million veterans. The review has narrowed the new pool of those potentially at risk to some 20,000 Guard and Reserve members and perhaps 30,000 US Navy personnel. VA officials say they are working with DOD to verify “to the greatest extent possible” just which individuals are vulnerable.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
