New NNSA Chief Chosen

U.S. President George Bush has selected a new head for the National Nuclear Security Administration, following the dismissal of Linton Brooks for his inability to solve security problems at U.S. nuclear laboratories, the Associated Press reported Saturday (see GSN, Jan. 5).

Thomas D’Agostino, the agency’s deputy administrator of defense programs, will take over leadership of the agency on an acting basis.

Brooks’ forced resignation is expected to take effect this month.

“His departure is long overdue,” said Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas).

Brooks’ exit is not enough to fix security problems (see GSN, Nov. 6, 2006; see GSN, June 12, 2006) at the agency charged with overseeing the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile and weapons research laboratories, some lawmakers said.

“It will take more than a new boss to fix the problems, which are fare more systemic and pervasive in nature,” said Representative Edward Markey (D-Mass.).  Markey sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which might hold hearings on Energy Department security.

A House Armed Services committee also is expected to conduct a hearing on “the important policy and structural changes” planned for the agency, according to Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) (Josef Herbert, Associated Press/San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 6).

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