The Project on Government Oversight is an investigative organization that works with inside sources to improve public policy. We are a politically independent nonprofit watchdog that strives to promote a government that's accountable to the citizenry. In early 2001, POGO began its investigation into nuclear security at the Department of Energy after more than a dozen highlevel departmental security experts came forward with their concerns. We interviewed, after that, current and former DOE security officials, Special Forces personnel who test security at nuclear facilities and DOE contractors, such as Mr. Timm, who coauthored the report. We now have people contacting us from all over the complex and headquarters. Just prior to September 11, 2001, POGO issued our report; and I ask that it be included in the record, but maybe just the text, because the attachments make it really fat. [The information referred to follows:] POGO Project On Govenment Oversight 98 U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS COMPLEX: October 2001 POGO MISSION STATEMENT The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) investigates, exposes, and seeks to remedy systemic abuses of power, mismanagement, and subservience by the federal government to powerful special interests. Founded in 1981, POGO is a politically-independent, nonprofit watchdog that strives to promote a government that is accountable to the citizenry. Foreword This report presents the results of an eight-month investigation initiated when more than a dozen whistleblowers contacted POGO with unclassified evidence that the U.S. Department of Energy's nuclear bomb complex is vulnerable to a terrorist attack. The contents of this report have been reviewed by trained and certified classifiers from inside and outside the government to ensure that this report contains no classified information. Report Contributors POGO Staff Danielle Brian, Executive Director Peter Stockton, is a paid consultant with POGO. He was Special Assistant to DOE Secretary Bill Richardson from 1999-2001. Mr. Stockton was the Chief investigator for Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee from 1972-1995, including during the Committee's investigations of DOE security failures. Unpaid Contributors: Ron Timm, RETA Security President, Security Analyst hired by DOE to analyze security at DOE weapons facilities. The additional contributors to this report have requested anonymity for fear of retaliation for exposing security failures. They include DOE security analysts, current and former Special Forces who portray mock-terrorists in force-on-force drills, DOE contractors, and officials at various levels of DOE Headquarters and facilities. |