Under One Umbrella:

Veterans Affairs is centralizing its management of information technology systems and security, per a decision by VA Secretary James Nicholson. Following this year’s fiasco in handling the theft of a VA laptop that potentially compromised personal data on more than 26 million veterans and military members, Nicholson has created a department solely dedicated to IT systems management and overseen by the VA’s assistant secretary for information and technology. VA plans to shift more than 5,000 IT employees from various offices into the new department. Congress and security analysts blamed VA’s decentralized management and lax security for the theft. Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), chairman of the House Veterans Committee, called Nicholson’s decision “commendable.”