Missing laptops steam lawmakers
It wasn't until last year that the FBI began using a system to keep track of its 13,000 laptop computers
"Reforming FBI Management: The Views from Inside and Out"
It wasn't until last year that the FBI began using a system to keep track of its 13,000 laptop computers—too late to prevent the loss or theft of 184 computers, bureau officials said.
FBI officials revealed July 17 that those laptops disappeared during the past 11 years, and as many as three of the computers contained sensitive or classified information.
Attorney General John Ashcroft said he asked the Justice Department inspector general to conduct an inventory of laptops and other items, to determine how the computers got lost "and to help us design a way to keep it from happening."
Acting FBI Director Tom Pickard said officials believe that at least 13 of the 184 computers were stolen.
"This is simply inexcusable," said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the ranking minority member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, at a contentious July 18 hearing.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the committee chairman, asked FBI officials who was accountable for these issues. Kenneth Senser, the FBI acting deputy assistant director for security programs and countermeasures, said FBI policy makes each person accountable for his or her own laptop.
"So you can have laptops with classified information, and you sort of leave it up to the person to make sure it's turned in when it's supposed to be?" Leahy asked.
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