The federal judge overseeing the Indian trust fund wants reports of the Department of Interior's computer systems made public.

In an order dated January 21, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth told special master Alan Balaran to file the "all the reports on the information technology systems" at DOI within 11 days. He directed Balaran to "remove any information that might jeopardize the security of individual Indian Trust Data" before turning in the documents.

Balaran has hired information technology firms to test whether or not the department's systems are safe from hackers. In the summer of 2001, one firm was able to break into computers housing billions of dollars in Indian trust fund data without detection. DOI later hired that firm, Predictive Systems, to beef up its network.

According to a House subcommittee, DOI's computer network is among the worst in federal government. Lawmakers gave the department an "F" in an annual report card released last month.

Relevant Documents:
Order on Special Master Contractor Reports (January 21, 2004)

From the Indianz.Com Archive:
Report reveals attacks on tribal, Indian trust (12/5)
No Trust: Hacking the Department of Interior (12/5)
DOI Shutdown: 'We're Hurting Tribes' (12/7)
From the top, a gamble in trust (12/7)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust

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