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Los Alamos National Laboratory
There is serious mismanagement at LANL, including inadequate physical security, unauthorized shipments of anthrax, missing computers and disks, and firing whistleblowers who are trying to expose corruption.
Related Resources (government documents and letters)
POGO Files
Countdown to Zero...Oversight of the Nuclear Complex POGOnauts, including POGO Senior Investigator Peter Stockton, review a new film about the nuclear weapons complex, Countdown to Zero, and discuss the recent trend towards less and less oversight of our nation's nuclear weapons stockpile.
July 27, 2010
POGO Letter to President Obama Regarding Systemic Safety Issues at Los Alamos National Lab
February 11, 2010
POGO Requests White House Intervention For Los Alamos
February 11, 2010
DOE Gives Nuclear Labs One Heck of a Long Winter Vacation
January 7, 2010
Los Alamos National Laboratory Researchers Accidentally Blow up Building with a Cannon
December 23, 2009
POGO letter to Energy Sec. Chu regarding LANL plutonium facility shutdown due to repeat of fire suppression system failures
November 17, 2009
DOE: Broken System for Protecting Nuclear Material Could Compromise Los Alamos Operations
February 26, 2009
DOE "Frustrated" by "Significant Weaknesses" in Los Alamos' Handling of Recent Missing Computers
February 11, 2009
LANL Blackberry is Vacationing in a Sensitive Foreign Country
January 29, 2009
INVESTIGATIVE LEAD: Is DOE Playing Red Light/Green Light at LANL?
September 24, 2008
Not Another Dime
July 8, 2008
Cutting the W88 - The Right Target
June 25, 2008
POGO Letter to DOE Secretary Samuel Bodman, regarding the plutonium pit production program
January 18, 2008
POGO Asks DOE to Issue Stop Work Order For Los Alamos Facility: CMRR of Dubious Value and Questionable Construction
December 3, 2007
POGO letter to DOE Under Secretary Thomas D’Agostino requesting a stop work order for the CMRR at Los Alamos due to construction concerns
November 30, 2007
POGO Cites Failing Grade for Los Alamos Oversight and Accountability in Letter to DOE Secretary
September 6, 2007
POGO Letter to DOE Secretary Samuel Bodman regarding need for independent oversight of the nuclear weapons complex
September 5, 2007
Another Security Breach at Los Alamos
August 6, 2007
"New" LANL Management Can't Get a Grip
March 22, 2007
Testimony of POGO's Danielle Brian, before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
January 30, 2007
Project On Government Oversight Calls Resignation of NNSA Administrator Linton Brooks a Good Move
January 4, 2007
British Embassy Has Questions about Latest LANL Security Breach; Internal Emails from DOE Show the U.K. Following Up on News Reports
November 1, 2006
Los Alamos Classified Info Found in Drug Raid
October 25, 2006
Los Alamos Classified Info Found in Drug Raid
October 25, 2006
Enforcement Actions for Safety Violations at Los Alamos National Laboratory 1996-2006; Total Fines Waived: $3.4 MILLION in 10 years
September 12, 2006
Leaked Docs: Los Alamos Safety Foibles Result in Largest Estimated Fine Ever
September 12, 2006
POGO Letter to DOE Secretary Bodman raising safety concerns
August 15, 2006
Los Alamos Workers Exposed to Hazardous Chemical Fumes
August 10, 2005
Radioactive Package Shipped Fedex to Pennsylvania
August 8, 2005
POGO's comments to the Draft Request for Proposals for the contract to manage Los Alamos National Laboratory
January 6, 2005
POGO: Hold New Manager at Los Alamos Accountable Draft Request for Proposal Issued to Manage Los Alamos National Laboratory
December 1, 2004
POGO Letter to DOE Secretary Abraham concerning Los Alamos contract
November 30, 2004
POGO Letter to DOE Secretary Spencer Abraham regarding security at nuclear weapons complex
August 13, 2004
Proposal to Secure Los Alamos Quashed
August 13, 2004
Thumbs Up to Secretary Abraham's Decision to Halt Classified Removable Media Operations in Nuclear Weapons Complex
July 23, 2004
More security blunders at Los Alamos.
July 18, 2004
At Los Alamos, Security Failures keep "happening, and happening, and happening." POGO Backgrounder
July 15, 2004
Only Half-truths from Los Alamos - POGO Recommends Termination of University of California's Los Alamos Contract
July 14, 2004
Classified Computer Media Missing at Los Alamos
May 20, 2004
POGO's Statement Regarding DOE's Movement of Los Alamos Nuclear Materials Late yesterday, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will move special nuclear materials from TA-18 at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) beginning in September of this year.
April 1, 2004
Because it is located at the bottom of a canyon, it is virtually impossible to properly defend nuclear materials at TA-18. Although former DOE Secretary Bill Richardson had ordered these materials moved by 2004, the process had stalled.
The Project On Government Oversight's (POGO) Executive Director Danielle Brian stated, "POGO applauds Secretary Spencer Abraham for jump-starting this process and cutting through the bureaucracy. Moving materials out of vulnerable sites is a significant step toward enhanced homeland security."
Ms. Brian added, "This move is a big win-win for DOE. It will not only significantly increase national security, but will also save taxpayer's about $30 million dollars a year." POGO encourages DOE to move all of the weapons grade nuclear materials out of TA-18 by the end of the 18 month campaign.
In October 2001, POGO released its report, U.S. Nuclear Weapons Complex: Security At Risk which recommended moving weapons grade nuclear materials out of TA-18 as well as several other steps to improve security in the nation's nuclear weapons complex. In January 2004, Ms. Brian and POGO's Senior Investigator Peter Stockton met with Secretary Abraham to discuss TA-18 as well as recommendations to increase security at other sites in the nuclear weapons complex.
Computer Disks with Classified Information Missing at Los Alamos
December 9, 2003
Los Alamos Myths and Facts
September 12, 2003
Near $1 Million Settlement Received by Los Alamos Whistleblower Compensation for Retaliatory Firing by University of California
August 21, 2003
Los Alamos Admits Losing Plutonium
June 20, 2003
Head of Nuclear Weapons Complex Government and Lab Employees: "It's all a misunderstanding"
June 19, 2003
Los Alamos Contract Open for Bids
April 30, 2003
POGO Calls for Immediate Competition of Los Alamos Contract - New Documents Show Safety Violations Sugar-Coated
April 29, 2003
POGO Letter to Energy Secretary Abraham recommending immediate competition of management contract of Los Alamos
April 29, 2003
Reporter Sneaks into Los Alamos Nuclear Weapons Lab Undetected
February 25, 2003
Whistleblower Groups Challenge DOE Officials' Optimism That Employees Who Raise Concerns Will Be Protected
February 5, 2003
DOE Broadens Scandal Inquiry to Livermore Lab
January 17, 2003
Energy Secretary Abraham "Deeply Troubled" Over Missing Classified Hard Drive at Los Alamos Lab
January 17, 2003
Another Computer Hard Drive is Missing at Los Alamos Investigative Lead - A computer hard drive that contains classified data has been missing from the Los Alamos National Laboratory since October 2002, but top officials at the Department of Energy have failed to investigate the loss.
January 15, 2003
POGO letter to Dr. Everet H. Beckner, Deputy Administrator for Defense Program, NNSA, DOE regarding security and safety issues at LANL
January 13, 2003
Removal of Top Security Officials at Los Alamos
January 8, 2003
Leaked Document: More Evidence Surfaces
December 23, 2002
Whistleblowers at Los Alamos Fired in Retaliation
November 22, 2002
Leaked Document: Mishandling Lost and Stolen Computers at Los Alamos New documents show serious problems in the handling of lost and stolen computers and other property at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
November 19, 2002
Leaked Documents: DOE to Move Nuclear Weapons Material
August 11, 2002
Los Alamos Nuclear Weapons Facility TA-18 To Close: One of Most Vulnerable to Terrorist Attack
July 2, 2002
POGO ran this ad
February 10, 2002
Missing Computer Data at Los Alamos? Continuing Security Lapses May Jeopardize National Security
January 29, 2002
Apparent Unauthorized Shipment of Anthrax
November 20, 2001
Related Resources
Response Letter to POGO from NNSA Administrator D'Agostino regarding LANL
Thomas P. D'Agostino, Administrator, Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
April 27, 2010
Letter from Rep. Joe Barton and Rep. Greg Walden regarding missing computers at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) and Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce
March 27, 2009
Long-Term Strategies Needed to Improve Security and Management Oversight
, Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report GAO-08-694
June 30, 2008
NNSA Responds to POGO letter to DOE requesting a stop work order for the CMRR at Los Alamos due to construction concerns
Robert L. Smolen, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, Department of Energy
December 31, 2007
Response Letter from DOE Secretary Bodman
Samuel W. Bodman, Department of Energy
June 15, 2007
Letter from Reps. Dingell and Stupak to DOE Secretary Bodman regarding security at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Representatives Dingell and Stupak,
June 14, 2007
Nuclear Weapons Chief Linton Brooks' response to POGO's letter concerning Los Alamos "CREM" cyber-security breach
Linton Brooks, Administrator, Department of Energy
December 21, 2006
Selected Controls over Classified Information at the Los Alamos National Laboratory
Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Energy
November 1, 2006
Response to POGO letter from DOE regarding inadequate safety oversight
Glenn S. Podonsky, Department of Energy
September 1, 2006
Department of Energy Response to Freedom of Information Act Request
William S. Maharay, Deputy IG for Audit Services, Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General
June 30, 2006
Report from DOE Deputy Secretary McSlarrow and NNSA Administrator Brooks regarding "Safety and Security Incidents at Los Alamos"
,
January 21, 2005
DOE's Secretary Abraham's letter to POGO regarding initiatives to raise security standards in the nuclear weapons complex
Secretary Spencer Abraham, Department of Energy
January 21, 2005
Internal Los Alamos "TA-18 Closure Plan" confirming that all Special Nuclear Materials will be removed from the vulnerable site by Sept 2005
,
August 20, 2004
Senator Pete Domenici's "Open Letter to Los Alamos"
Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-NM),
July 22, 2004
Nuclear weapons complex official Everett Beckner confirms intent to stonewall full move of all nuclear materials from dangerous Los Alamos
Everet Beckner, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, Department Of Energy
May 12, 2004
University of California internal investigation memo
John F. Lundberg and Bruce Herr, University of California, Office of the General Counsel
June 25, 2003
Los Alamos whistleblowers testify about rampant corruption
, House Energy and Commerce Committee
February 26, 2003
Energy and Commerce Leaders Want Los Alamos Employees Reinstated
,
January 17, 2003
Joint Statement By Glenn A. Walp, Steven L. Doran and Senior Officials Of The University Of California
, University of California, Office of the President
January 17, 2003
Special Inquiry: Operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Report DOE/IG-0584, Department of Energy Inspector General's Office
January 1, 2003
Special Inquiry: Operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Energy
January 1, 2003
Energy Secretary Abraham's letter to the President of the University of California, which runs Los Alamos
Spencer Abraham, Secretary, Department of Energy
December 24, 2002
Letter from University of California President Richard C. Atkinson to Dr. John Browne
Richard C. Atkinson, University of California President,
December 6, 2002
POGO in the News
Gun Blasts Bunker At LANL; Shock Physics Experiment Yields Surprise Results, By Phil Parker, Albuquerque Journal Northern Bureau, December 24, 2009
Nuclear Lab Accidentally Blows Up Building, By Rachel Morris, Mother Jones, December 23, 2009
Study finds quake risk at Los Alamos, By Ralph Vartabedian, The Los Angeles Times, October 28, 2009
Seismic activity at the nuclear lab could result in deadly amounts of airborne plutonium, federal experts say, By Ralph Vartabedian, The Los Angeles Times, October 28, 2009
POGO Questions Kudos On NIF, By Todd Jacobson, Nuclear Weapons & Materials Monitor, May 18, 2009
Chu Warned On Plutonium Stored At Los Alamos, By George Lobsenz, Defense Daily, May 6, 2009
Concerns over lab’s plutonium project in memo, By Roger Snodgrass, Los Alamos Monitor, May 1, 2009
Barton criticizes NNSA, Los Alamos lab about stolen and missing computers, By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press, March 27, 2009
Los Alamos' security flaws exposed, By Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, March 26, 2009
Energy scrutinizes Los Alamos bookkeeping problems, By Katherine McIntire Peter, Government Executive, March 3, 2009
Memo questions Los Alamos lab's control of plutonium, By Katherine McIntre Peters, Government Executive, February 27, 2009
New Security Lapse at Los Alamos Triggers Angry Response From Energy Department, By Greg Webb, Global Security Newswire, February 27, 2009
Los Alamos lab reports unreconciled inventory; says nothing missing, Associated Press, The Denver Post, February 26, 2009
LANL reports 'material control' errors, By Sue Vorenberg, The New Mexican, February 26, 2009
Los Alamos computer thefts prompt DOE security check at nuclear lab, By Jaikumar Vijayan, Computerworld, February 23, 2009
Government Hack Attacks Prompt Scrutiny, By Marisa Taylor, Wall Street Journal Online's Digits blog, February 16, 2009
Los Alamos Security Woes Worsen, Again, By Robert O’Harrow, Jr., Washington Post/Government Inc., February 12, 2009
69 computers lost at weapons lab, , Los Angeles Times, February 12, 2009
69 computers missing at LANL, By Matthew Reichbach, New Mexico Independent, February 12, 2009
Report Faults LANL Bosses, By Raam Wong , Albuquerque Journal, February 12, 2009
67 computers missing from nuclear weapons lab, By Joan Lowy, Associated Press, February 11, 2009
More Security Problems Turn Up At Los Alamos, By Bob O’Harrow, Washington Post, Government Inc. Blog, February 2, 2009
Security, Safety Incidents Rear Up At Los Alamos, By George Lobsenz, The Energy Daily, January 30, 2009
LANL Probes Missing Off-Site Computers, By Raam Wong, Albuquerque Journal, January 29, 2009
LANL Warns Of Possible Chemical Contamination, By Sue Vorenberg, The Santa Fe New Mexican, January 29, 2009
Los Alamos lab disputes group's contention lost, stolen equipment constitutes security breach, By Sue Major Holmes, Associated Press, January 29, 2009
DoE Raps Nuke Lab Operators On Errant Classified E-Mails, By George Lobsenz, Defense Daily, June 13, 2008
Gov.'s Diversity Class Riles Lab Workers, By David Roybal, Albuquerque Journal, April 20, 2008
Quality of Nuclear Devices Questioned, By H. Josef Hebert , Associated Press, January 20, 2008
The True Story: Two U.S. Nuclear Labs "Hacked", By Jason Mick, Daily Tech, December 8, 2007
Hackers Launch Major Attack on US Military Labs, By John E. Dunn, Techworld , December 7, 2007
LANL Building Project Faulted ; Oversight Group: Lab Rushed Work, By Raam Wong, Albuquerque Journal, December 5, 2007
Weaknesses Found at LANL; Report Points To Security Problems, by Raam Wong, Albuquerque Journal, September 7, 2007
Another Classified Data Incident At Los Alamos–POGO, by George Lobsenz, The Energy Daily, August 7, 2007
LANL faces huge fine in security breach, by Andy Lenderman, Santa Fe New Mexican, July 13, 2007
What's Next, LANL Plans on MySpace?, Editorial, Albuquerque Journal, June 16, 2007
Anger Over Nuclear Secrets Leak, by Adam Zagorin, Time Magazine, June 14, 2007
A Breach in Nuclear Security, by Adam Zagorin, Time Magazine, April 19, 2007
Nuclear security workers anonymously ask Congress for probe, by Darren Goode, GovExec.com, March 22, 2007
Nuke Lab Workers' SOS to Congress, by Noah Shachtman, Wired Blogs: Danger Room, March 21, 2007
UC exempt from paying $1.1 million for LANL violations, by Andy Lenderman, Santa Fe New Mexican, February 27, 2007
Accident Report Cites Lax Safety; 2 Nearly Killed On Job at LANL, by John Arnold, Albuquerque Journal, February 24, 2007
Los Alamos begins drug testing, by Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, January 31, 2007
Congress scrutinizes Los Alamos security, by Jennifer Talhelm, Associated Press, CBS News, January 30, 2007
Anastasio to testify, by Roger Snodgrass, Los Alamos Monitor, January 27, 2007
U.S. nuclear labs working on weapons safeguards, by Ralph Vartabedian, The Los Angeles Times, December 4, 2006
Report rips lab security, by Andy Lenderman, The Santa Fe New Mexican, November 29, 2006
Drug raid leads to classified UC data find, by Supriya Satya, UCSD Guardian, November 9, 2006
Outsourcing secrets, with Mike Causey, Federal News Radio, November 8, 2006
Lab: Classified files not "most sensitive", by Andy Lenderman, The Santa Fe New Mexican, November 4, 2006
Newscast: Twenty-two year-old Los Alamos employee breaches security, found with classified documents at her home, , CBS News: The Saturday Early Show, November 4, 2006
Los Alamos nuclear documents found in home, , United Press International, November 3, 2006
Leak adds fuel to security breach fire, by Roger Snodgrass and Carol A. Clark, Los Alamos Monitor, November 3, 2006
Claim: Drugs leak exposed Brit secrets, , United Press International, November 1, 2006
Lab boss confirms security breach; LANL director announces new safeguards, by Raam Wong and John Arnold, Albuquerque Journal, October 28, 2006
Meth addict says he knows nothing about classified documents found in mobile home, by Deborah Baker, Associated Press, The Washington Post, October 27, 2006
Energy probes another data loss, by Michael Hardy, FCW.com, October 26, 2006
Another possible data security breach at Los Alamos, by Stephen Losey, Federal Times, October 26, 2006
Los Alamos secrets are found in drug factory, by Catherine Philp, The Times, October 26, 2006
FBI eyes contractor in Los Alamos leak, by Jerry Seper, Washington Times, October 26, 2006
Los Alamos confirms data breach, by Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, October 26, 2006
Local meth case turns into counterintelligence investigation, by Jason Ryan and Pierre Thomas, ABC News, October 25, 2006
Another breach at Los Alamos, , Los Angeles Times, October 25, 2006
Drug raid yields Los Alamos documents, by Lara Jakes Jordan, Associated Press, The Washington Post, October 25, 2006
US DOE probing how Los Alamos documents went missing, by Maya Jackson Randall, Dow Jones Newswires, October 25, 2006
N.M. may be new hub of nukes; candidates for center include Los Alamos, by John Fleck, Albuquerque Journal, October 20, 2006
LANL safety violations could cost UC $1.1M; documents detail series of lapses, by John Arnold, Albuquerque Journal, September 13, 2006
Los Alamos lab chief leaves no doubt who's in charge, By Keay Davidson, Chronicle Science Writer, San Francisco Chronicle, December 23, 2005
Los Alamos Management Named; University of California Keeps Contract at N.M. Nuclear Lab, By Rick Weiss, The Washington Post, December 22, 2005
Error at lab spreads nuclear material, By Keay Davidson, San Francisco Chronicle, August 9, 2005
Power and Money in Los Alamos Contract, By Rebecca Trounson, Los Angeles Times, July 17, 2005
Nanos To Step Down at LANL , By Heather Clark, Associated Press, Albuquerque Journal, May 16, 2005
The Nation; Head of Troubled Los Alamos Lab Resigns, By Ralph Vartabedian and Peter Hong , Los Angeles Times, May 7, 2005
National Weapons Lab Amid Another Financial Scandal, With Bob Schieffer, CBS News, March 20, 2005
Los Alamos security shutdown costly; government picks up tab, By H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press, March 18, 2005
2 LANL Whistle-Blowers Sue UC, By Adam Rankin, Albuquerque Journal, March 4, 2005
UC docked for lapses at nuke lab; U.S. slashes school's fee, says 'missing' disks never existed, By Keay Davidson, San Francisco Chronicle, January 29, 2005
A Slew of Safety, Security Weaknesses Found at Los Alamos, By Rebecca Trounson and Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, January 29, 2005
Watchdog group calls for tougher Los Alamos performance standards, By David McGlinchey, Government Executive, January 12, 2005
Help Sought for Lab Whistle-Blowers, By Adam Rankin, Albuquerque Journal, October 27, 2004
Pity Los Alamos' Whistle-Blowers, op-ed by POGO's Danielle Brian and Peter Stockton, Los Angeles Times, August 12, 2004
Nuclear Lab's Missing Disks May Not Exist , By Sandra Blakeslee , The New York Times, August 12, 2004
UC alone didn't ruin Los Alamos, op-ed by POGO's Nick Schwellenbach, The Daily Texan, August 10, 2004
UC Should Quit Los Alamos, , Los Angeles Times Editorial, August 2, 2004
Classified E-Mail Left Nuclear Lab, By Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, July 18, 2004
Clampdown At Los Alamos; Frantic Search For Missing Discs Containing Atomic Arms Secrets, , CBS News, July 15, 2004
Protecting the Nation's Nuclear Materials, by David Kestenbaum, National Public Radio (NPR), February 26, 2004
Science and Security, With Spencer Michels, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, August 25, 2003
THREATS AND RESPONSES: NUCLEAR SAFETY; Arms Official Brushes Off A Complaint About Audit , By Matthew L. Wald, New York Times, July 5, 2003
Arms Official Brushes Off A Complaint About Audit, Matthew L. Wald, New York Times, July 5, 2003
Los Alamos can't find two vials of plutonium, By Zachary Coile, San Francisco Chronicle, June 19, 2003
Los Alamos loses plutonium, By Michael Killian, Chicago Tribune, June 19, 2003
Lab Scandal Undermines Nuclear Credibility, By Notra Trulock, III , Accuracy In Media, March 5, 2003
Nuke Lab Can't Keep Snoops Out, By Noah Shachtman, Wired.com, February 25, 2003
Nuclear Lab Safety Official Is Suspended, By Ralph Vartabedian and Rebecca Trounson, The Los Angeles Times, January 29, 2003
Nuke Lab Strips Top Cops' Badges, By Noah Shachtman, Wired News, January 8, 2003
Los Alamos Lab Officials Quit, By Christopher Joyce, National Public Radio (NPR), January 3, 2003
Los Almos Loses Director Under Cloud of Scandals, By Mike Kilian, Chicago Tribune, January 3, 2003
Pink Slips For Lab Whistleblowers, With Sharyl Attkisson, CBS Evening News, November 27, 2002
Los Alamos on Hot Seat Again, Noah Shachtman, Wired News, November 8, 2002
