Dem predicts federal data security problems will get worse

The federal government’s data security problems are “going to get worse” before they get better, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said on Wednesday.

{mosads}”This data security issue is going to only exponentially grow,” he said while speaking about the recent data breach at the Office of Personnel Management at the DATA Act Summit.

Warner, who is involved in tech issues and sits on the Select Committee on Intelligence, called securing federal data “enormously challenging.” He said that sequestration had made it worse and had “squeezed out” some of the efforts.  

His comments come days after revelations that a data breach at the federal agency exposed the personal information of millions of federal workers. Hackers from China are reportedly suspected in the breach, though federal officials are continuing to investigate.

The chief information office of the agency met with members of the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, though no session is scheduled for members of the equivalent Senate committee.