Coast Guard data breach delays pay for 1,135 members

A data breach affecting the U.S. Coast Guard has resulted in the temporary shutdown of its Direct Access system, delaying bi-weekly pay for 1,135 service members. The breach exposed sensitive information, including some members' direct deposit account and routing numbers, and was discovered after a junior petty officer reported unusual activity. The Coast Guard Investigative Service and Cyber Command are investigating the incident while the Personnel Service Center is working to expedite payments to affected members. The service has pledged to keep its workforce updated on the investigation's progress and the steps taken to secure their data. This breach follows a previous incident last year that compromised the information of over 10,000 Coast Guard Reserve members, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities within the system. The Coast Guard is committed to transparency as it addresses the current situation and enhances its cybersecurity measures.