Investigators with VA’s Inspector General have ascertained that data on the computer hard drive missing from a Birmingham, Ala., VA facility may include veterans information on about 535,000 individuals. That’s not all, though. It also could contain data—some of it sensitive—on 1.3 million living and deceased doctors not employed by the VA. Most of the physician information is in the public domain, and is used by the VA to analyze and improve its health care services, according to a VA release. VA officials plan to begin notifications to affected individuals next week, offering free credit monitoring for one year.
The Pentagon awarded a contract worth over $2 billion for the next batch of F-35 engines to Pratt & Whitney on June 5. The deal for Lot 17 F135 engines, totaling $2.02 billion, is expected to be completed by December 2025.