American Legion's Jeff Stoffer on VA Data Failures and Roosevelt Museum
Jeff Stoffer, Director of the American Legion Media and Communications Division, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to preview the June edition of the American Legion Magazine. Stoffer also discussed how the VA spent $21 billion on software licenses and systems between 2022 and 2024, yet still cannot accurately track how many it has or whether they are working. Two bills in the U.S. Congress, supported by the American Legion, would force a reckoning on both software asset management and the protection of veterans' data.
Stoffer also previewed the June issue's feature on a therapeutic sailing program for veterans and a major story on the upcoming July 4 dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Medora, N.D.
- A Government Accountability Office report revealed the VA spent $21 billion on software licenses and systems between 2022 and 2024 but still cannot accurately track how many licenses it holds, whether they are in use or whether they are achieving their intended purpose. This report prompted American Legion Legislative Director Cole Lyle to testify before the House Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs Oversight and Investigations in support of H.R.6654, the Veterans Affairs Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act, which would require an immediate comprehensive inventory and strategic management plan.
- The Veteran Data Act, H.R.7280, would amend existing law to prohibit the VA from contracting with providers who sell or misuse veteran data, a protection currently absent from federal law. A 2026 VA Inspector General report found the Veterans Health Administration National Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Research Program had improperly shared a file containing a significant amount of protected health information with non-VA investigators.
- The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is a 93,000-square-foot facility built into the badlands of Medora, N.D. It features an immersive virtual reality experience, including an AI Theodore Roosevelt. A grand dedication ceremony is scheduled for July 4, coinciding with the nation's 250th birthday. Stoffer said the museum honors the formative years Roosevelt spent in North Dakota after a personal tragedy at age 24. This time helped shape Roosevelt’s understanding of the American worker and his later policy legacy on behalf of working people, Stoffer said.
The VA Cannot Track $21 Billion in Software — and Veteran Data Is at Risk
Jeff Stoffer discussed two legislative stories during his appearance on the America's Work Force Union Podcast, both centered on the VA's management of technology and the data of the veterans it serves.
A U.S. Government Accountability Office report found the VA spent $21 billion on software licenses and systems between 2022 and 2024, but cannot accurately determine how many licenses it holds, whether they are in use or whether they are functioning as intended. The American Legion is backing H.R.6654, the Veterans Affairs Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act, which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a comprehensive inventory and develop a strategic management framework. American Legion Legislative Director Cole Lyle testified in person before the House Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs Oversight and Investigations to drive home that message.
Veteran Data Protection: Operating on a 1974 Law
The second bill, the Veteran Data Act, H.R.7280, addresses a related and equally serious gap. The VA's primary data privacy standards still trace back to the Privacy Act of 1974. In his written testimony, Lyle noted that government protections are not keeping pace with technological advancement. This creates a significant problem in an era of cybersecurity threats, identity theft and commercial exploitation of sensitive medical records. A 2026 VA Inspector General report found that the Veterans Health Administration National Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Research Program had improperly shared a file containing protected health information with non-VA investigators. According to Stoffer, H.R.7280 would codify into law a prohibition on VA contracting with any provider that sells or misuses veteran data.
Strength in the Storm: Sailing as a Path to Healing
The June edition of the American Legion Magazine features a story on a therapeutic sailing program for veterans dealing with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. Stoffer previewed the piece, calling it a compelling example of the kind of non-traditional treatment pathways that are making a real difference in veterans’ lives.
His Spirit Is Here: Theodore Roosevelt and the Museum Built in the Badlands
The lead feature in the June issue covers the upcoming July 4, 2026, dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Medora, N.D., a 93,000-square-foot facility built into the badlands and nearly invisible from the surrounding trails. The museum will feature immersive virtual reality experiences — including a campfire at Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch, a visit to the White House and a re-creation of the treacherous River of Doubt expedition — as well as an AI version of Roosevelt himself available for conversation.
Stoffer said the story centers on Medora. Roosevelt arrived there in 1884 at age 24, having lost both his wife and his mother on Valentine's Day. Devastated, he left behind his political positions and business interests and went west to become a cowboy. The years he spent in North Dakota gave him his love of the strenuous life, his understanding of hard work and his lasting connection to the American heartland. Roosevelt himself said he would never have become president without that time. The dedication on July 4, 2026, America's 250th birthday, is the right moment to honor that story, Stoffer said.
More information is available at legion.org.
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