NOTE: There are two possibilities here: 1) Either we have an unbelievably ignorant Judge that doesn't understand the difference between one web site and another, in which case they have no business being a Judge in this case. OR, 2) someone is using this as an excuse to SHUT OFF INFORMATION. Gee, wonder what they are covering up? Later, they will say, 'oh dear, over reaction on our part, mea culpa...had to do with mix up between the metric and the inch'... You'll understand, of course...
No, I don't think so.
TM
Subject: Disconnecting E-mail and Internet Access
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 15:27:31 -0500
From: Director's_Office@usgs.gov
To: USGS_All@usgs.gov
From: Chip Groat
To: All USGS Employees Nationwide
Subject: Disconnecting E-mail and Internet Access
At the direction of the Office of the Secretary, the USGS has been ordered to
immediately disconnect all of its external network connections due to
security concerns of the Court in the Cobell v. Norton case. As a result,
all USGS users will not be able to:
\267 Send or receive Internet email
\267 Send or receive email outside of USGS
\267 Access the Internet
\267 Access FPPS
In addition, all USGS customers will not be able to:
\267 Access USGS web pages
\267 Send email or receive email from USGS
These measures were ordered by the Court after the Special Master for the
Cobell litigation hired a contractor to conduct penetration testing of Indian
Trust Management systems resulting in a compromise of those systems. As a
result, all Bureaus must take these measures.
Cost centers that have their own ISP service must work with their provider to
filter all public access to their web and email. Cost centers should provide
a contact name and phone number to receive notification of ability to
reinstate services.
It is unknown at this time how long these measures will be in place. The
Department is working with the Court to discuss the security of our systems
and the restoration of the affected connections. In the interim, users may
wish to contact their frequent business contacts and make arrangements to
conduct business by telephone and fax. I understand that these measures have
serious consequences to our ability to meet our mission and I ask for your
understanding until such time as the Court sees fit to allow us to restore
these services.
----------
Serving Freedom
and Liberty
