IAITAM Urges IRS-Equifax Contract Be Voided; House Dems Seek More Answers About Breach
The International Association of IT Asset Managers is urging Congress to rescind a no-bid $7.25 million IRS contract to Equifax in light of the credit monitoring service's massive data breach. “I have zero confidence that Equifax should be trusted to…
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process information about U.S. taxpayers,” said IAITAM CEO Barbara Rembiesa. She said former Equifax CEO Richard Smith's testimony last week before congressional committees scapegoated one employee (see 1710030034, 1710040039 and 1710050045). Lawmakers including Rep Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., aren't pleased with IRS' explanation and plan to look deeper (see 1710110041 and 1710040042). Meanwhile, all Democratic members on the House Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, led by ranking member Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), and the full committee's ranking member Frank Pallone (N.J.), seek more hearings on the Equifax data breach. In a Thursday letter to House Commerce Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., and subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, they said testimony from Smith was "an important first step ... but too many questions remain unanswered." Smith didn't provide good answers on how the breach occurred and seemed to give contradictory answers on that front, they said. He also couldn't fully explain how the company would move forward, they added. Democrats said they're seeking to advance bipartisan legislation before Dec. 15 that requires "enforceable robust data security practices, meaningful notice to consumers, and meaningful protections for victims of a breach."