Last month, computers at the US Government's Office of Personnel Management were systematically reamed by the Communist Chinese and 4.2 million personel records were read. More here, here and here.
Now the number being quoted is 21.5 Million personal records. The breach was discovered when a third-party software vendor was demonstrating their wares and the hack was shown to be running.
Now the head is out of a job - from MyWay News:
Under fire for data breach, Obama personnel chief steps down
The embattled head of the government's personnel office abruptly stepped down Friday, bowing to mounting pressure following the unprecedented breach of private information her agency was entrusted to protect.
Katherine Archuleta had served as director of the federal Office of Personnel Management since November 2013. The former national political director for President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, Archuleta came under scathing criticism amid revelations this year that hackers — widely believed to be China's government — had infiltrated her agency's databases as well as background-check records for millions who applied for U.S. security clearances.
On Thursday, Archuleta had rebuffed demands that she resign, declaring she was "committed to the work that I am doing." But her continued tenure at the agency grew untenable as calls from lawmakers — including members of Obama's own party — mushroomed. On Friday morning, she came to the White House to personally submit her resignation to Obama.
More:
Archuleta joins a small but notable group of top Obama administration officials who have resigned under pressure from Congress and the public. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki stepped down last year amid a growing scandal over VA health care, and Secret Service Director Julia Pierson was pushed aside in 2014 following breaches to Obama's security. Obama forced acting Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Steven Miller to resign in 2013 after revelations came to light about an IRS office's treatment of tea party applications for tax-exempt status.
In the OPM case, the data stolen by hackers included criminal, financial, health, employment and residency histories, as well as information about families and acquaintances. The second, larger attack affected not only applicants for security clearances but also nearly 2 million of their spouses, housemates and others.
She will lay low for six months and, like a turd in a punchbowl, she will pop up in some other office making the same money (or better) and demonstrate the same level of competency.
At one time I thought about getting a job in WA State government - I knew some of the people in the IT department. My scruples kicked in and I decided not to...
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