Congressional members request information on data security vetting for government contracts

A group of House Energy and Commerce Committee members sent a letter Monday to the General Services Administration (GSA) to request information on its data security vetting for awarding government contracts.

The committee members also sent a letter recently to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about the agency’s now suspended contract with Equifax, which recently experienced a widespread data breach.

The letter to GSA noted that the agency awarded contracts to Equifax for data-related services at various federal agencies including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“We are writing to request information about the General Services Administration’s (GSA) consideration of data security practices when vetting vendors and awarding government contracts,” the letter said. “As a Federal government agency, GSA has a responsibility to act in the best interests of the American public, including ensuring that their personal information is secure.”

Full committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee (DCCP) Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH), DCCP Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), as well as the rest of DCCP, signed the letter to GSA.