News

USIS Washington 
File

02 August 1999

Text: Energy Department "Security Stand-Down" August 3

(Department ceases routine work for daylong security training) (890)

Washington -- U.S. Department of Energy sites with a national security
mission will carry out a "security stand-down" ordered by Energy
Secretary Bill Richardson August 3, ceasing routine work activities to
participate in a day-long program of security training and education.

Other DOE facilities will conduct security stand-downs later in the
month. The department's three weapons laboratories -- Los Alamos,
Lawrence Livermore, and Sandia -- carried out a two-day security
immersion program in June, and in April all classified computers at
those labs were shut down for security upgrades and worker training.
Certain other DOE employees have also completed the training.

"The security stand-downs are among several steps already being
carried out as part of the largest reform of security programs in DOE
history," according to a DOE press release.

Following is the text of the press release:

(Begin text)

U.S. Department of Energy
News Release 
July 29, 1999

ENERGY SECRETARY RICHARDSON ORDERS 
DEPARTMENT-WIDE 'SECURITY STAND-DOWN'

Latest Action To Immerse Employees in Intense Security Education,
Training

To further fortify sweeping security reforms at the U.S. Department of
Energy, Secretary Bill Richardson today ordered a department-wide
"security stand-down." DOE sites with a national security mission will
be the first to carry out the directive when they cease routine work
activities on Aug. 3 to participate in a day-long program of security
training and education.

By the end of August, employees at every DOE facility will have
participated in the compulsory stand-down. (Weapons laboratories that
have already conducted security stand-downs are exempt.) Specific
activities will be tailored to reflect the specific needs and
situations of each location involved in the stand-down. "Every one of
our workers must realize -- if they don't already -- that every job
carries with it a security obligation," Richardson said. "I'm ordering
this action to ensure that DOE is doing everything possible to protect
America's secrets and sensitive technologies. Without exception,
participation is required."

Secretary Richardson ordered the move on the advice of his new
security chief, Eugene Habiger, former head of the U.S. Strategic
Command. "Security must remain an inherent part of our day-to-day work
ethic and culture," the retired general said. "We at the Energy
Department have been given a special trust by the American people and
Congress. This stand-down is a vital next step to ensure that all of
our facilities, regardless of their missions, are living up to that
special trust."

"Because Department of Energy laboratories have such broad and diverse
missions, from defense research to open academic science, we recognize
that it is unwise to create a 'one-size-fits-all' security plan,"
added Dr. Ernest Moniz, Under Secretary of Energy and the department's
top scientist. "This phased security stand-down will enable DOE to fit
the security needs to the programs that are carried on at each
facility."

The stand-down is the third that Secretary Richardson has ordered. On
June 21-22, he directed the management and employees of DOE's three
weapons labs (Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia) to carry out
a two-day security immersion program. In April, all classified
computers at these weapons labs were shut down for two weeks for
security upgrades and worker training. In addition, DOE headquarters
employees who work in the offices of Defense Programs and Nuclear
Nonproliferation have completed security stand-downs. These actions
are part of a forceful series of measures that Secretary Richardson is
taking to detect and correct long-standing bureaucratic problems and
resource deficiencies within the department's security operations.

Except for locations that already have completed security reviews, all
department facilities across the country will be required to take part
in the stand-down. Employees who work at facilities or laboratories
conducting no classified work will focus on computer network security,
host responsibilities for foreign visits, export control regulations
and property protection. Topics also will include security-sensitive
matters such as terrorism, local threats, computer hackers,
disgruntled employees, unintentional errors and natural disasters.

On Aug. 3, at facilities where classified work is done, daily
activities will stop as employees examine personal responsibilities
for security, counterintelligence and cyber-security. Secretary
Richardson has instructed management to make certain that the reviews
address individual responsibilities to enforce and respect effective
counterintelligence, security and cyber-security procedures;
historical safeguards and security problems within certain parts of
the department; status of implementing previous counterintelligence,
security and cyber-security improvements already underway by previous
directives from Secretary Richardson; and cyber-security actions being
taken throughout DOE's weapons complex, especially actions and
personal responsibility that individuals should take on e-mails and
other personal computer use.

Make-up sessions will be arranged for any employee unable to
participate due to leave, travel, illness or experimental activity
that, for safety and continuity, requires personal attention. The
order requires that all employees complete the program by Aug. 31.
While the stand-down at locations with a national security mission
will take the entire day, security reviews at facilities where no
classified work is performed are not expected to last the entire day.

The security stand-downs are among several steps already being carried
out as part of the largest reform of security programs in DOE history.
These include an overhaul of the department's security management and
oversight function, new counterintelligence and cyber-security
measures, cyber-threat training and a zero-tolerance security policy.

(End text)