Second House panel questions federal officials on Y-12 security breach

The U.S. House of Representatives has a second hearing this afternoon on this summer’s security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Today’s 2 p.m. hearing is before the House Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, and it can be watched live online.

Today’s hearing follows one yesterday by the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. During that hearing, House members called the July 28 security breach at Y-12 “appalling” and an “all-out failure,” and they asked who had been fired and who was responsible for various problems—such as security cameras that didn’t work.

One questioned whether private contractors should be used to protect nuclear facilities, and several called for strong oversight of the National Nuclear Security Administration and national nuclear facilities.

A few recognized and thanked Megan Rice, who has become the most notorious of the three protesters because she is an 82-year-old nun.

“You’ve shown the laxness of the security at our nuclear weapons facilities, but you’ve also pointed out that we have an out-of-control arms race,” said Rep. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat.

See newer story here.