VA on Data Theft: In case you missed the national news coverage, Veteran Affairs confirmed that an electronic data file, taken home by an employee, was stolen. The data file contained names, social security numbers, and dates of birth for up to 26.5 million—yes, million—veterans and some spouses. There is no way to know at this point whether the thief knows what he has or can make use of it. VA plans to send individual notification letters but also suggests veterans go to this Web site to learn how to protect themselves from possible identity theft. (Here is the VA statement.)
A three-month continuing resolution that ended in December inflicted less pain on the Department of the Air Force than it had expected, as procurement and construction continue in the new year. The federal government operated under a stopgap spending measure that stretched from the beginning of the fiscal year on…