VA Employees Accused of Accessing Vance, Walz Medical Records Improperly

An investigation is reportedly underway into allegations that Veterans Affairs employees improperly accessed the medical records of JD Vance and Tim Walz.

At a Glance

The Department of Veterans Affairs employees allegedly accessed the health records of JD Vance and Tim Walz.
The alleged breaches have been under criminal investigation by the Justice Department.
VA Secretary Denis McDonough warned of severe penalties for unauthorized access to records.
Neither Vance’s nor Walz’s campaign has publicly commented on the matter.

Investigation into Illegal Access

Reports indicate that multiple employees from the Department of Veterans Affairs accessed the health records of JD Vance and Tim Walz without authorization. The Justice Department is investigating these claims. Both candidates are veterans with Vance serving four years in the Marine Corps and Walz serving 24 years in the Army National Guard.

The alleged unauthorized records intrusions were first reported by the Washington Post. According to VA press secretary Terrence Hayes, the issue was swiftly referred to Justice Department investigators once VA leaders were made aware of the improper access. Hayes emphasized that the VA has strict policies to protect veterans’ records and any improper access by personnel is deemed unacceptable.

Department of Justice officials are looking into whether the actions by VA staff warrant criminal charges. https://t.co/yvWt0pGOe4

— ArmyTimes (@ArmyTimes) October 1, 2024

VA’s Response to Alleged Privacy Violations

VA Secretary Denis McDonough has previously reminded employees of the importance of adhering to privacy rules concerning veterans’ records. In August, McDonough sent a stern letter warning that unauthorized access to records could result in disciplinary action, including removal and potential civil and criminal penalties. McDonough’s communication also reiterated that viewing a veteran’s records out of curiosity or any other unauthorized reason is strictly forbidden.

“Viewing a veteran’s records out of curiosity or concern — or for any purpose that is not directly related to officially authorized and assigned duties — is strictly prohibited,” McDonough wrote. “Failure to comply with these requirements may result in disciplinary action, including removal, as well as referral to law enforcement for civil penalties and criminal prosecution.”

So far, neither Walz’s nor Vance’s campaign has made any public comment regarding the breaches. The accessed records reportedly included medical files, but not details on disability or other benefits information. Over a dozen VA staff members are implicated, with most accessing the records using work computers in government offices.

Further Steps and Investigations

Among the VA employees who allegedly accessed the records, at least one was identified as a physician and another as a VA contractor. Most claimed they were merely curious due to the candidates’ high profiles during the presidential campaign. VA spokesperson Terrence Hayes condemned these breaches and confirmed that the department reported them to law enforcement.

Both the VA Inspector General and the Justice Department are involved in investigating these breaches. Notification about the breaches was sent to the campaigns of Vance and Walz. The incidents were disclosed just before the first and only debate between the vice presidential nominees in New York City ahead of the November election.