Oppose the Polygraph Testing Proposal!

For an introduction to the letter, see here.

The letter was sent on November 18, 1999.

		November 1999   Dear Senators Bingaman, Boxer, Domenici, Feinstein, and Representatives Campbell, Condit, Eshoo, Lantos, Lee, Lofgren, George Miller, Pelosi, Stark, Skeen, Tauscher, Udall, and Wilson:           We, the undersigned, are employees of Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos, and Sandia National Laboratories who are writing to you to express our profound concerns on the proposed use of polygraph testing as a screening tool to identify scientists and engineers who may have committed espionage.           Notwithstanding the fact that the polygraph test would infringe upon the civil liberties of the laboratory employees, we argue here that the key reason why the polygraph should not be adopted is that it is unreliable and inaccurate.           Polygraphy is not a field accepted by the general scientific community as a legitimate branch of science, which includes fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Science is based upon controlled experiments and data analyses. Its products and findings undergo peer review before being accepted as valid. Rejected by the American Medical Association and the American Psychology Association, polygraphy is built upon incomplete data and manipulation of statistics. The test results depend on a multiplicity of variables which are subject to the particular mood, mental and physical state of the individual being tested, the atmosphere of the test facility; and the skill and opinion of the examiner. It is one step away from astrology, palm reading, and tarot card reading. Its use is advocated primarily by polygraph equipment makers and polygraphers who stand to financially benefit from its continued and expanded use.           The true accuracy rate of polygraph testing is a subject of considerable debate, but it generally ranges from 60 to 90%. Trained spies such as Aldrich Ames have passed the tests, but innocent people have at least a 10% chance of failing it. The Department of Energy is proposing to apply the test to about 1000 employees per year. As a result of this "polygraph roulette," at least 100 innocent people will fail the test. These people will have to face the full investigative power of the government. Worse yet, if this happens in the midst of a full-blown spy scandal, the polygraph test conveniently provides a list of scapegoats for the government to finger and diffuse the public pressure for swift justice and accountability.           While we oppose the use of the polygraph, we are fully supportive of Energy Secretary Richardson's effort to increase the overall security of the Labs. Since April, we had two days of "security immersion" in which everyone from Lab directors to custodians went through non-stop security re-training. New procedures have been created to fill in gaps that previously existed; old rules have been reinforced to prevent accidental leaks of classified information. Our computer networks are undergoing a considerable upgrade to fend off any further "cyber attacks." These are effective procedures that will help increase the security of the Labs. Polygraph testing, on the other hand, is inaccurate and ineffective. It will not catch any trained spies, but will finger innocent people. If it is implemented, scientists will be reluctant to work on projects related to weapons or national security to avoid the potential career-ending false positive test results. Furthermore, it will present a serious impediment to recruitment of young scientists and engineers. This in the end will harm national security much more than the espionage it is supposed to prevent ever will.           We, the undersigned, as employees of the National Nuclear Security Administration Laboratories urge you to join together with resolve to prevent the implementation of polygraph testing as required in the FY2000 Defense Appropriations Act and as proposed by the Department of Energy. Sincerely,   (Names of lab employees)

As of 8:00 am, January 7, 2000, 469 people signed the letter.

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