More National/World

• Congressman is indicted
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Albuquerque Old Town
• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

WASHINGTON — The head of the National Nuclear Security Administration said today he is strongly considering expanding a program of random drug testing for employees at security-plagued Los Alamos National Laboratory to all employees at all NNSA facilities, including Sandia National Laboratories.

"This makes sense to me," acting NNSA Administrator Tom D'Agostino told the Tribune after an NNSA budget briefing.

But he said he first wants to evaluate the drug testing program at Los Alamos, which was only initiated last year after a secretary was arrested during a drug bust and found to be in possession of classified and unclassified documents on a flash drive.

The director at Los Alamos, Michael Anastasio, also began drug testing all new hires at the lab, not just those who work in secure areas.

Sandia has always had drug testing for new employees, but follow-up drug screening is limited to drivers and certain other employees in sensitive areas, said Sandia spokeswoman Stephanie Holinka.

At hearings in the House last week on security problems at Los Alamos, some members of Congress were surprised to learn that drug testing is not already required at the eight NNSA labs and plants.

Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman told the House Armed Services Committee last week that he expects to look at expanding drug testing throughout the weapons lab complex. The budget President Bush sent to Congress on Monday calls for a 17.4 percent increase in spending at NNSA on physical and cyber security.

D'Agostino told the Tribune he would make the decision on drug testing at NNSA facilities in consultation with Bodman.

D'Agostino also reporters today that they are well underway with efforts to seal all open computer ports at NNSA facilities either through changes in software or physically sealing USB and Firewire ports.