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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 1999

"These seven new initiatives, coupled with recommendations we have already implemented, will go a long way to ensure our nation's national security by giving us the tools and resources we need to prevent the loss of sensitive information," said Secretary Richardson. "Today's announcement will enable the Department of Energy to have one of the strongest counterintelligence programs in government."

The Secretary's seven new initiatives are:

CYBER SECURITY – The Department is seeking an additional $8 million in next year's counterintelligence budget to institute a new cyber-information security program. This will raise the FY2000 counterintelligence budget request to $39.2 million and will enable the Department to better protect its cyber systems from outside attack and penetration and will allow the Department to analyze and screen for sensitive electronic mail that originates from its facilities.

DOCUMENT CONTROL – The Secretary is imposing stricter document controls at the laboratories for all Secret and Top Secret documents that contain weapon design data. These more stringent measures will enable DOE to better control and track access to sensitive information.

FOREIGN VISITORS SECURITY REVIEW – To ensure that the Department's foreign visitors program meets the highest standards of security, the Secretary has asked the former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John Deutsch, to further review the security of DOE's foreign visitors and assignments program.

MONITORING DOE's PROGRESS – The Secretary has asked his two top officials, the Deputy and the Undersecretary to monitor implementation of the Department's counterintelligence strengthening plan and to provide regular progress reports.

REEXAMINE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE FILES – The Department's Office of Counterintelligence will undertake an extensive review and analysis of all its investigative files. This reexamination of files, in light of recent events, will give the Office of Counterintelligence an opportunity to identify cases that may need further review and possible investigation.

CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION – The Department will submit to Congress an annual report on the status of DOE's counterintelligence and foreign visitors programs.

INTERNAL INQUIRY – The Secretary has launched an internal inquiry to look into allegations that a Department official tried to prevent the sharing of information with members of Congress.

Hired counterintelligence professionals to be based at weapons labs.

Doubled DOE's counterintelligence budget twice in the last two years [FY 1998 $7.6 million; FY 1999 $15.6 million; FY 2000 $31.2 million].

Changed the screening and the approval process for foreign scientists seeking access to DOE labs and have made the lab directors directly accountable for foreign visits.

Instituted more extensive security reviews – including authorizing the use of polygraphs – for DOE scientists working in sensitive programs

Raised the profile and power of the Office of Counterintelligence. The director of Counterintelligence now reports directly to the Secretary of Energy – and the counterintelligence experts at the labs have direct access to the lab director and the headquarter's Office of Counterintelligence – ensuring direct and easy access to immediately raise any counterintelligence concerns.

R-99-048

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