There's a "culture of mismanagement" at Los Alamos National Laboratory, current and former nuclear security specialists there are saying. And they want Congress to investigate the birthplace of the atomic bomb -- again -- for "health, safety, security and management concerns."
"We have never in our careers, either in public service or the private sector, witnessed such gross mismanagement," these workers, from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Los Alamos Site Office, say in a letter to Congress, obtained by the Project on Government Oversight (POGO).
No names are attached to the note. "While whistleblower protection is afforded," the workers write, "we fear DOE [Department of Energy] management retaliation." But the employees claim they have "a sum of more that 100 years of experience" in the Energy Department.
In a press release, POGO notes that the University of California last year won a questionable competition to continue managing Los Alamos -- despite a torrent of scandals. "The NNSA then initiated a 'pilot program' that allows the contractor to oversee itself." That's a major no-no. " This program rendered the Site Office virtually powerless to correct problems," notes one poster to a Los Alamos blog.
"Why select a site that is-known to have had a history of serious management problems and serious problems with business systems?" the letter adds.
