News
Committee meets on HSPD-12
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee
held meetings April 9 on the status of Homeland Security Presidential
Directive 12 and its impact on federal employees and contractors. The
hearing directly affects Jet Propulsion Laboratory employees and their
lawsuit against NASA.
On August 30, 2007, 28 scientists and
engineers from JPL filed suit against NASA for their newly required
background checks. The employees argued that the checks were extensive and
violated the constitution and their rights. The lawsuit continues in both
the District Court and the Ninth District Court of Appeals.
The hearing reviewed the current status of the required checks and
released a report from the Government Accountability Office that found the
program is incurring high cost and provided little benefit.
During
the hearing Congressman Adam Schiff asked Michael Griffin, NASA
Administrator, why NASA interpreted the directive differently than other
agencies, and asked for more extensive background checks.
“We are
not trying to impose any requirements beyond what we believe the law
requires for HSPD-12,” Griffin answered.
None of the employees that
brought the lawsuit are in a classified or “sensitive” position at
JPL.
“....Frankly, there are people at the Energy Department that
are working on sensitive national security issues that are of equal
significance than, I think, being down at JPL,” Schiff countered.