Smith questions ACA security measures

House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) recently outlined concerns with the security of the healthcare.gov website and requested documentation and records of corrective action taken since the website was launched in October.

Smith joined House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) and House Research and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) in outlining the concerns in a letter to John Holdren, President Obama’s top science and technology advisor.

“In its haste to launch the Healthcare.gov website, it appears the Obama Administration cut corners that leave the site open to hackers and other online criminals,” the congressmen said. “As a result, Americans who have already entered personal information into healthcare.gov are vulnerable to identity theft.”

The letter raises questions about the president’s top assistants’ roles in addressing security issues before the website’s launch and whether those activities are protected by executive privilege.

“It is logical to assume that security and privacy responsibility resides at the highest level of government,” the lawmakers said. “We are troubled by the fact that the president either did not know, or did not care, that the personal and financial data collected as part of Obamacare is not secure.”

While a number of cyber attacks have been attempted, the lawmakers added, more will likely come if swift action is not taken to address security issues.