Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

What they have been doing is changing or manipulating data to influence public discourse.

American consumers face unprecedented privacy and security threats.

I am such a fan of the Coast Guard, and, fortunately, I've had the privilege of traveling all the way to Alaska...

Florida's economy is at stake if you get cut.

Because there are literally lives at stake from getting it wrong.

And you don't qualify for an exemption in the hiring freeze policy?

I would suggest to all my colleagues on the committee that if there is a place that cries out for an exemption if this hiring freeze is going to continue, it would be the OIG at the VA.

Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman, for yielding, and I appreciate you agreeing to hold this important public witness hearing.

Clearly, the Inspector General plays a vital role in ensuring that VA programs are implemented properly and that funds appropriated by this committee are spent wisely and in accordance with the law.

Okay. And then just as I run out of time, on the Board of Veterans Appeals and the backlog...

Do they all receive the same training?

Okay. And then you mentioned the reorganization and Jared Kushner's office's goals. Are those goals aligned with yours?

I find it extremely troubling that the Under Secretary of Health, the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology... are all positions that remain empty.

We have lives at stake.

we have female veterans that are committing suicide at a rate of six times that of women civilians.

I don't think it is clear how it works and what happens from beginning to end, every hour of every day.

I would like to follow up with your office so that you can be aware of this technology.