June 4, 2015investigationcybersecurityfederal personnelnational securitycybersecurityfederal workforcenational security

OPM discloses breach exposing federal personnel records

The Office of Personnel Management disclosed that hackers had stolen personnel records on millions of current and former federal employees. Subsequent disclosures showed two intrusions ultimately exposed about 21.5 million records, including security-clearance background investigation files (SF-86) and 5.6 million fingerprints. Director Katherine Archuleta resigned on July 10, 2015. The breach was attributed to actors linked to the Chinese government and accelerated federal demands for a centralized civilian cybersecurity authority.

Sources

The OPM Data Breach: How the Government Jeopardized Our National Security for More than a Generation Cyber Intrusion into U.S. Office of Personnel Management: In Brief Second OPM Data Breach Hit 21.5 Million, Included Fingerprints