The Pentagon’s Defense Manpower Data Center runs a public website that lets anyone with personal information about a service member — their name, social security number, and date of birth — find more details about them. Details like whether they’re still serving in the military, when they enlisted and their separation date. The public database was set up to help financial institutions comply with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, which grants a host of legal protections for members of the military. But a new lawsuit by Vietnam Veterans of America claims the way DoD is implementing the website puts sensitive data about millions of troops and veterans at risk. Rick Weidman is VVA’s director for policy and government affairs. He talked with Federal Drive with Tom Temin about the group’s objections.

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