WP ed.: Homeland Security employees "gagged," subject to searches

[DeepModem Mom]

Homeland Secrecy
Friday, December 3, 2004; Page A26


THE GOVERNMENT keeps too many secrets. It classifies information that would do no harm if published; this impedes information-sharing within the government and erodes public confidence. Now the Department of Homeland Security is adding a new twist: aggressive secrecy concerning information that isn't even classified.

In recent months, the department has been requiring new employees and contractors to sign non-disclosure agreements regarding "sensitive but unclassified" information they learn at work. Signers must acknowledge that they "could be subject to administrative, disciplinary, civil or criminal action" for violations and that the government may "conduct inspections, at any time or place, for the purpose of ensuring compliance." In other words, as a condition of their employment, DHS workers have to accept a gag agreement and permit potentially intrusive searches as well.

Labor unions have understandably complained, and a DHS official says the agreements are being reviewed. This official explains that the agreements merely duplicate regulations that already protect certain categories of information; they don't actually do much at all, he says, and may therefore not be necessary. It's true they're not necessary, but anti-secrecy activist Steven Aftergood disputes the contention that they would have little effect. He says they could chill whistle-blowing and more basic discussion between government employees and the outside world. Mr. Aftergood notes that the military doesn't require its employees to sign such documents. DHS shouldn't either....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30124-2004Dec2.html

[rodeodance]

1. it is getting real scary to live in America!!!

[asjr]

2. More and more so. I keep wondering when some

foreign country will come to our rescue.

[annabanana]

3. DHS personnel don't even know this yet..........

There are, however, other changes that they DO know about:

Homeland Security's Personnel Rules Overhaul Will Proceed Without
Ridge

By Stephen Barr

The departure of Tom Ridge as secretary of the Department
of Homeland Security will not slow plans to overhaul rules for
how thousands of Homeland Security employees are paid, promoted
and disciplined, a top official said yesterday.

"We are continuing on the path of establishing the new HR
system," said Janet Hale, the department's
undersecretary for management. "The department needs the new HR
system, and we need to act quickly and decisively to meet our
mission needs. We know that it is a priority of his to complete
before his departure."

Ridge said on Tuesday that he would leave the department by Feb. 1.
That deadline suggests that the department will try to publish its
final rules in January. The rule changes were authorized by
Congress two years ago.