Recent reductions within the United States Digital Service (USDS) have impacted several departments, including product management, design, and procurement. It has been reported by a source, Kamens, and others, that he was the sole member dismissed from the USDS engineering team. Speculation suggests that Kamens was possibly singled out due to his public critiques of DOGE in the weeks leading up to the reductions. DOGE did not respond to requests for comments regarding Kamens’ termination.
Kamens has highlighted that, despite the need to secure all large IT systems from hacking threats, his most critical project at the VA involved safeguarding veterans’ sensitive personal information. This entailed ensuring data was stored securely and implementing stringent controls to govern information access. Effective risk management from network intrusions and insider threats necessitates both an understanding of data flow within an organization and the limitation of data access.
Kamens expressed a significant concern regarding the potential mishandling of personal health information (PHI) and personal identifying information (PII). He believed that while the existing access controls were adequate, they lacked the necessary precision for effectively managing data access. The initiatives he was leading to address these issues are now at risk of being disrupted due to the recent removals.
The effects of these staffing cuts at the VA and the broader USDS are beginning to surface. Apart from possibly hindering efforts to bolster digital security, these reductions could undermine the present digital safeguards.
Senator Patty Murray of Washington, who is the vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual press conference where recently dismissed federal workers shared their experiences. Among them was Raphael Garcia, a disabled Army veteran who had been a management analyst with the VA. Garcia described coordinating IT system access and maintaining key compliance and operational controls, emphasizing that his termination highlights the federal government’s reduction of support systems for veterans and vulnerable communities.
Kamens, previously employed in the private sector before joining USDS, expressed his fondness for government work, noting it would be challenging to find another equally fulfilling position. During an encounter after the inauguration with DOGE, Kamens recounted being asked why he wasn’t working in the private sector for higher pay, to which he replied that his priority was serving veterans, rather than financial gain. Kamens concluded by asserting that the nature of the question reflects broader issues.
