U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth will hold an evidentiary hearing today to determine whether the Interior Department's computer systems are safe from Internet hackers.

The hearing was called in response to a recent Inspector General report cited the "poor state of network security" at the department. The report prompted the Bureau of Land Management to shut down its website.

The plaintiffs in the Cobell v. Norton lawsuit say the report is further proof that the computer systems housing billions of dollars in Indian funds are open to hackers. But attorneys for the Bush administration say there is no cause for alarm and that the department has spent $100 million to improve the network.

Witnesses will be called to shed light into the matter. The plaintiffs want Lamberth to shut down the vulnerable systems.

Court Orders:
Evidentiary Hearing Order (April 25, 2005) | Protective Order (April 22, 2005)

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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