Union officials: Chinese hackers have every US federal worker’s Social Security number, personal data

Hackers have access to the Social Security numbers and personnel data of every federal employee, a government worker union told the Associated Press on Thursday. The security breach, which was reportedly carried out by Chinese hackers, is the worst to occur during this administration, the union said.

According to a letter on the matter obtained by the AP, the information compromised includes military records, veterans' status information, address, birth date, job history, pay history, health insurance, life insurance, pension information, age, gender, and race.

"We believe that Social Security numbers were not encrypted, a cybersecurity failure that is absolutely indefensible and outrageous," the letter from the American Federal of Government Employees to the Office of Personnel Management said. "Based on the sketchy information OPM has provided, we believe that the Central Personnel Data File was the targeted database, and that the hackers are now in possession of all personnel data for every federal employee, every federal retiree, and up to one million former federal employees."

The White House and OPM have not yet commented on the extent of this breach.

Newsweek