Former Interior secretary Dirk Kempthorne let a critical report about Internet security at the Interior Department "die a quiet death," a former employee said.

Kempthorne created a panel to address concerns that the department's computer systems were vulnerable to hackers despite $100 million in improvements. But nothing ever came of the effort, the former employee said.

"It was allowed to die a quiet death," the former employee told NextGov.

The report was written by Inspector General Earl E. Devaney in May 2008. He didn't release it publicly because Kempthorne was supposed to improve security issues, the former employee said.

"The department's own chief information officer acknowledged the department is failing," the report said. "Sweeping reform is required to correct deficiencies in the department's IT program."

The report only came to light recently. The plaintiffs in the Indian trust fund lawsuit have filed a copy in federal court.

Get the Story:
Internal report contradicts Interior's claims that systems were secure (NextGov 4/2)

IG Report:
Compilation of Information Technology Challenges at DOI (May 2008)