“The Department of Veterans Affairs isn’t doing enough to protect veterans from being targeted by foreign actors online, a group of 19 senators said again in a letter to Secretary Robert Wilkie this week.”
“An investigation by a veteran service organization found that malicious foreign entities were targeting veterans through misinformation on social media and other online tools and that such targeting continues related to the upcoming federal election.”
“The senators’ letter to Wilkie, obtained by Connecting Vets, is dated March 5 and is the second effort by senators to call on Wilkie to defend the veterans in his care.”
“Last year, the Vietnam Veterans of America released the results of a two-year investigation which ‘documented persistent, pervasive and coordinated online targeting of American service members, veterans and their families by foreign entities who seek to disrupt American democracy.’ Following that report, senators, led by Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., wrote to Wilkie seeking information about VA’s efforts to combat the attacks on veterans.”
“Three months later, the senators said they received a brief response:”
“’VA continues to support federal efforts to combat foreign influence by educating veterans, VA employees and beneficiaries on threats from foreign influence operations. VA partners with a wide variety of agencies regarding national security matters and will continue to work on behalf of veterans, VA employees and beneficiaries to counter the full spectrum of threats to national security.’”
“When asked to respond to the senators’ most recent letter, VA spokeswoman Susan Carter provided Connecting Vets the same statement.”
“Senators were not satisfied with Wilkie’s words…” Read the full article here.
Source: VA ‘inadequate’ in response to veterans targeted by foreign threats online, senators tell Wilkie – By Abbie Bennett, March 6, 2020. Connecting Vets.
