In a press release addressing the OIG’s memo, FEMA called it a “major privacy incident” that affected people who survived the 2017 California wildfires and hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Millions of major disaster survivors provided FEMA with sensitive information to apply for assistance from the TSA program. FEMA in turn provided that information to a contractor to verify applicants’ eligibility for the program. Federal law and Homeland Security policy requires federal agencies to release only personal information that is legally authorized and necessary. An OIG audit found that FEMA unnecessarily shared TSA applicants’ financial information, including financial institution names and electronic bank account information, as well as street addresses, with the contractor.

Source: Huffington Post March 23, 2019 01:52 UTC