LOL EPA OIG NDA WTF: Eco-watchdog's auditors barred from seeing own agency's cloud security report by gagging order

Lest you think working for Uncle Sam in Washington DC is glamorous or in any way enviable, behold this stunning achievement in bureaucratic cock-up, or perhaps conspiracy. America's Environmental Protection Agency's internal auditors say they have been locked out of a critical security report on their own organization's IT …

[A.P. Veening]

Kafka?

I am getting the feeling some idiot in Washington DC read some works by Franz Kafka and thought they were a rule book instead of fiction.

[Michael H.F. Wilkinson]

Classic Catch 22 situation

One Heller with a side order of Kafka, please

[sprograms]

Re: Classic Catch 22 situation

-Really? Is that a sincere requet? OK, you're now being promoted to the Senior Executive Service. You obviously "get it." Congratulations.

[Trollslayer]

Safe drinking water

The city Flint, Michigan has had dangerous levels of lead in their drinking water for years and not one thing has been done about it.

Government for the people by the people?

[Nunyabiznes]

Re: Safe drinking water

To be fair, the EPA sets guidelines for safe levels of toxins in various scenarios and your local agency is expected to adhere. Since Flint blew money (including a substantial amount of Fed $) on everything except their own infrastructure, what is the EPA supposed to do?

They can shut down the water system altogether - that is technically within their purview and they have done it before. There will be serious political blowback.

They can put Flint on double-secret probation - but how will we know?

They can give them another wad of cash to blow - but I'd rather they didn't throw good money after bad.

Areas around Detroit are all kinds of jacked up. I don't know how it will ever get fixed. I suspect that nuking from orbit and putting up a fence might be the easiest solution.

[RACERX403]

Re: Safe drinking water

Actually the EPA is charged with enforcing drinking water regulations. They are empowered to take civil or criminal enforcement action against violators of environmental laws. In this case they have brought a Federal lawsuit against the state of Michigan. Six state officials have been brought up on criminal charges with two of them are facing manslaughter charges. Two Flint city managers and two water district managers are charged with felonies over this matter as well.

My family living Flint, MI are doing okay. They do not need to have their homes "Nuked from orbit" or some terrestrial source.

[Anonymous Coward]

Not surprising at all

Didn't the former head of the EPA install a "cone of silence" in his office to make secret phone calls and fly in upgraded seats to avoid being recognized but then liked to travel in cars with lights and sirens blaring to alert others of his self importance?

[rnturn]

Re: Not surprising at all

Yep. And a security detail that would make a drug lord or rap star jealous.

[Keven E]

Public government?

Perhaps they just don't want those security flaws made public as to invite *attacks they prolly know will be successful, the fixes for which will take months to apply to all of the affected systems.

And, of course, the GOP don't wanna sully the good name of Nixon who started it... other than eliminating the whole thing... <blank stare>

[Kimo]

There is a Public Interest exception to an NDA, despite what the text may claim. Our current administration loves them, but the courts do not. Better to violate the NDA and sue if they take action.

[earl grey]

what can possibly go wrong

it's all fun and games until someone wants to see the data.