The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has lost a computer hard drive that contains information on about 100,000 of its security-cleared employees. The information on the hard drive includes Homeland Security agents' Social Security numbers, financial data (including bank data) and payroll information. 

Matt Apuzzo of the Associated Press reports on the TSA's response to this potentially critical security breach.

Authorities realized Thursday the hard drive was missing from a controlled area at TSA headquarters. TSA Administrator Kip Hawley sent a letter to employees Friday apologizing for the lost data and promising to pay for one year of credit monitoring services. 

The AP got a copy of Hawley's letter which stated:

"TSA has no evidence that an unauthorized individual is using your personal information, but we bring this incident to your attention so that you can be alert to signs of any possible misuse of your identity. We profoundly apologize for any inconvenience and concern that this incident has caused you." 

In a statement issued Friday, TSA officials said they did not know if the hard drive had been stolen or was lost inside TSA headquarters.  

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