By Patrick Malone | The Center for Public Integrity Nov 10, 2017 Updated Nov 10, 2017
The head of the federal agency that produces U.S. nuclear weapons has privately proposed to end public access to key safety reports from a federal watchdog group that monitors 10 sites involved in weapons production. Frank Klotz, administrator of the Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration, made the proposal to members of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board in an Oct. 13 meeting, multiple U.S. officials said. Klotz contended that recent media stories — including those in The New Mexican — about safety lapses that relied partially on the board’s weekly disclosures were potentially counterproductive to the National Nuclear Security Administration’s mission, the officials said. His solution was presented as the Trump administration considers an acceleration and expansion of nuclear warhead production
The head of the federal agency that produces U.S. nuclear weapons has privately proposed to end public access to key safety reports from a federal watchdog group that monitors 10 sites involved in weapons production. Frank Klotz, administrator of the Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration, made the proposal to members of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board in an Oct. 13 meeting, multiple U.S. officials said. Klotz contended that recent media stories — including those in The New Mexican — about safety lapses that relied partially on the board’s weekly disclosures were potentially counterproductive to the National Nuclear Security Administration’s mission, the officials said. His solution was presented as the Trump administration considers an acceleration and expansion of nuclear warhead production
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