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Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing on the OPM Data Breach
Record date · January 1, 2016
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What This Bill Does
This document is a transcript of a 2015 joint House subcommittee hearing investigating the scope and implications of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) . Lawmakers and expert witnesses discussed the security failures that led to the incident and evaluated the broader state of federal cybersecurity.
The hearing examined the security vulnerabilities of federal personnel records, which impacted millions of current and former federal employees, and assessed the effectiveness of government-wide data protection standards.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Federal employees
Current and former federal employees had their personal data exposed in the OPM breach.
Office of Personnel Management
The agency was the subject of the investigation regarding its data security practices.
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on July 8, 2015, by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- The primary subject was the OPM data breach and whether it represented a systemic failure in federal cybersecurity.
- Witnesses included representatives from the OPM Office of the Inspector General, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
- The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) provided testimony regarding the impact on federal workers.
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- The hearing included formal opening statements from subcommittee chairs and ranking members.
- The record includes post-hearing responses to questions submitted by committee members to the witnesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Focus on Federal Cybersecurity Standards
The hearing highlights a transition toward more rigorous oversight of federal IT security by the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment30Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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