An agency watchdog found that the Department of Veteran Affairs' former chief information security officer retaliated against an IT leader for expressing concerns about a technology contract, FedScoop reported June 10.
According to a February report from the VA's Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, disciplinary action was taken against an IT leader after he raised concerns about contract negotiations between the VA's former CISO Paul Cunningham and software company Splunk.
The watchdog found that Joseph Stenaka was given a low performance rating and was removed from his position as executive director for information security operations of the department's office of information and technology after he raised concerns alleging that Mr. Cunningham had received "pennies on the dollar" for what the Splunk contract was worth.
According to the report, the U.S. Code prohibits personnel action against federal employees who disclose information in order to stop gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority or to highlight a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
Mr. Cunningham served as CISO of the VA from January 2019 to February 2022.
A spokesperson for the VA told FedScoop that Mr. Cunningham no longer works for the department, and that the department does not comment on personnel matters.