The scandal over two missing computer drives containing nuclear secrets from the Los Alamos National Laboratory is raising new questions about whether the Energy Department can handle security at its defense facilities. Members of Congress expressed outrage last week over the disclosure that lab employees discovered classified material missing on May 7, but did not report it to their superiors for three weeks. Energy officials, as well, vented their frustration over the breakdown in their security system. Lab director John Browne said he was not going to make any excuses. But he said Los Alamos was faced with chaos last month when raging wildfires threatened to engulf the area and destroy the lab.
People do make mistakes under stress.
But lawmakers said this is the latest in a long stream of security violations involving Energy facilities. Last year, former Los Alamos scientist Wen Ho Lee was charged with copying top-secret computer files that have never been found. He s now awaiting trial. Lawmakers began raising new questions about security within hours after the latest lapse was disclosed, and they dismissed Energy officials explanations that computer drives may have been misplaced, not stolen. Lawmakers also were angered because Energy Secretary Bill Richardson declined to appear at the hearing.