Another fine example of this administration’s incompetence, as it trickles down to Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center. Yet, NO ONE will be held accountable for this latest breach of personal security. - JS

WASHINGTON (AP) - More than a quarter of the computer equipment at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington could not be found by investigators, government auditors reported Tuesday.

Three other VA facilities showed slightly better results but still could not locate between 6% and 11% of their equipment, including computers, hard drives, monitors and other devices. In all, the four facilities audited by the Government Accountability Office reported more than 2,400 missing items originally worth $6.4 million.

Aside from decrying potentially wasted tax dollars, lawmakers said the report raises fresh questions about the security of the agency’s information, including sensitive medical records and Social Security numbers.

The audit follows a series of computer data security breaches at the agency that exposed millions of veterans and medical providers to possible identity theft.

“It has a very corrosive effect on trust in the VA in general,” said Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn. “I think all of us up here are sensing the frustrations of our constituents and our veterans.”

For the audit, the GAO sampled equipment inventories at medical centers in Washington, San Diego, Indianapolis and at VA headquarters offices.

The auditors said much of the equipment that could be found was not where inventory records said it should be. Equipment often was moved or set aside for discard without documentation. As a result, it was difficult or impossible to determine what had happened to the missing equipment, the report said.

Equipment slated for disposal - some containing sensitive records - often sat unprotected in storage rooms for months or years, the report said.

“Essentially no one was accountable for IT equipment,” it said.

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