Former Interior secretary Dirk Kempthorne said he didn't know Internet security at the Interior Department was so weak until "late in the administration."

Kempthorne said he "personally chaired" a meeting of top officials after receiving a May 2008 report about vulnerabilities in the department's systems. He said the goal was to identify what improvements needed to be made.

"It was unfortunate this was brought to my attention so late in the administration," Kempthorne told The Washington Post.

The report from Inspector General Earl E. Devaney wasn't the first of its kind though. Internet security has been a major issue in Indian trust fund lawsuit and the Bush administration said it spent $100 million to improve the department's systems before Kempthorne came on board.

Get the Story:
Report Says Interior Dept. Failed to Secure Network (The Washington Post 4/5)

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

Related Stories:
Kempthorne let Internet report 'die a quiet death' (4/3)