Personal data of several US lawmakers stolen in major cyber breach

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Mar 2023 10:29

A memo sent to House staffers warned that those who used the health insurance marketplace DC Health Link could have been compromised as a result of the breach.

A view of the US Capitol building as the sunrises in Washington, US, February 10, 2022. (Reuters)

House Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor said in a memo sent to the lawmakers on Wednesday that the personal information of hundreds of US House of Representatives members and staffers has been stolen in a cyber breach of the health insurance marketplace for the District of Columbia, DC Health Link, on Tuesday.

The Health Benefit Exchange Authority (@DCHealthLink), Washington DC's health insurance marketplace, may have suffered a #databreach after a database allegedly containing personal information about 170K individuals was offered up for sale on a data leaks forum...@DCGovWeb pic.twitter.com/HQ7qAHkHfS
— BetterCyber (@_bettercyber_) March 6, 2023

"I have been informed by the United States Capitol Police and DC Health Link of a data breach impacting members and staff. DC Health Link suffered a significant data breach yesterday, potentially exposing the Personal Identifiable Information (PI) of thousands of enrollees," the letter reads.

The letter further states that the size and scope of the breach are unknown, but the FBI has informed the House that lawmakers' and staffers' personal data had been stolen.

The letter also warned that those who used DC Health Link could be compromised resulting from the breach.

A final list of impacted persons has yet to be released. The letter states that one will soon be finalized later in the day. As of now, it appears that House members were the main target of the breach, as per the letter.

NEW: The Chief Administrative Officer of the House just emailed staffers/members to say there’s be a significant data breach at DC Health Link - the health insurance for House members and staff: pic.twitter.com/zftDjB4fG2
— frank baeman (@DonBauman61) March 9, 2023