FROM THE ARCHIVE
Devastating security report revealed
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2001 Against Secretary of Interior Gale Norton's wishes, the federal judge overseeing the Cobell v. Norton class action has unsealed an extremely scathing and damaging investigation into the computer security of all trust data. According to special master Alan Balaran, the department has repeatedly told tribes and American Indians that protection of their assets was of the "highest priority" while allowing computer networks that housed the funds to lay in ruin. Along with computer security experts he hired, Balaran was able to create his own trust account without being noticed, break into TAAMS (Trust Asset and Accounting and Management System) and other trust systems using no passwords or simple passwords and, in general, access all of the Interior's computer servers. "Rather than take any remedial actions, its senior management has resorted to the condescending refrain that has consistently insinuated itself into the federal government's relationship with Native Americans," wrote Balaran, "[a]nd that is one that requests forbearance and trust on the grounds that reform continues to be the 'highest priority.'" "It is the view of the Special Master that, in this instance, such trust is not warranted," he concludes. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth has scheduled a hearing tomorrow at 10 a.m. to consider shutting down the Interior's entire computer network in order to protect $3.1 billion in tribal and individual assets. Get the Report:
Report and Recommendations of the Special Master Regarding the Security of Trust Data at the Department of the Interior (12/4) Today on Indianz.Com:
McCaleb doubts tribal opposition (12/4)
Interior extends comment period (12/4)
Trust fund report still can't be found (12/4)
Tribal leaders worried about consultation (12/4)
Judge holding secret hearings (12/4)
GOP push may be tied to Indian preference (12/4)
Indian leader happy for contempt trial (12/4) Relevant Links:
Office of the Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Trust Management Improvement Project - http://www.doi.gov/bia/trust/tmip.htm
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com Related Stories:
Norton set for 'worst nightmare' (12/3)
Judge holding secret trust fund hearing(12/3)
McCaleb to discuss trust fund on radio (12/3)
Okla. leaders question Norton's plan (12/3)
Tribal leaders clamor for trust report (12/3)
Editorial: Hold Norton in contempt (12/3)
Judicial role in Norton's fate recognized (11/30)
Interior slammed on trust fund progress (11/30)
New NCAI president vows BIA fight (11/30)
Interior will send 'someone' to hearing (11/30)
Interior says tribal leaders can have report (11/30)
Norton ordered to trial for 'fraud' (11/29)
Tribal leaders reject BIA overhaul (11/29)
Indian Country deserves answers (11/29)
McCaleb suffers leg injury (11/29)
Report: Interior can't be trusted (11/29)
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Swimmer: No clue on historical funds (11/29)
Contempt trial important somewhere (11/29)
Developing: Norton, McCaleb ordered to contempt trial (11/28)
Norton sees GOP support on overhaul (11/28)
Trust fund settlement talks fail (11/28)
NCAI shoring up Norton opposition (11/28)
Tribal leaders challenging Norton (11/28)
Norton wants to cut Interior jobs (11/28)
Norton failing on trust fund backup (11/27)
Interior schedules first consultation (11/27)
Interior cutting off tribal comments (11/27)
BIA collecting Indian preference info (11/27)
Norton's BIA overhaul blasted (11/26)
Interior changes mind on consultation (11/26)
Indian Country opposition gains momentum(11/26)
Norton faces big week on trust (11/26)
Editorial: Give Norton plan a chance (11/26)
Norton's attorney decries unfairness (11/26)
Norton's choice raises questions (11/26)
Judge holds secret hearing (11/23)
Indian Country slams 'sham' consultation (11/21)
Top trust fund official questioned (11/21)
No Thanksgiving for Indian Country (11/21)
Domenici praises Norton's 'bold move' (11/21)
BIA reorganization a focus of NCAI (11/21)
Reagan's Indian chief is back (11/20)
McCaleb faces Indian preference question (11/20)
Norton defends overhaul of BIA (11/20)
Norton promises fast start (11/20)
Developing: Swimmer tapped by Bush administration (11/19)
Few answers on BIA overhaul (11/19)
Norton challenges trust fund receiver (11/19)
Gover: Indian Country had it coming (11/19)
BIA reorganization focus of radio show (11/19)
Norton defends quarterly reports (11/19)
Norton's 'runaway train' denounced (11/17)
Norton stripping BIA of trust duties (11/16)
Tribal leaders in uproar over proposal (11/16)
Top Democrat calls for hearings (11/16)
Bush officials to speak at NCAI (11/16)
Norton files contempt defense (11/16)
Q&A on BIA Reorganization (11/16)
Developing: BIA stripped of trust duties (11/15)
Interior might need year on new agency (11/15)
Gover: Indian Country now 'weaker' (11/15)
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