U.S. Defense Department's New Policy: Ban Foreign Access To Tech Projects

Sparked by heightened security concerns since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Defense Department has begun laying the groundwork to ban non-U.S. citizens from a wide range of computer projects. The planned policy--slated for adoption within 90 days--extends restrictions on . . . Sparked by heightened security concerns since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Defense Department has begun laying the groundwork to ban non-U.S. citizens from a wide range of computer projects. The planned policy--slated for adoption within 90 days--extends restrictions on foreign nationals handling secret information to "sensitive but unclassified positions," which include the swelling numbers of contract workers who process paychecks, write software, track supplies and maintain e-mail systems.

The move comes amid a growing awareness of the vulnerability of government computer systems in an era when software espionage and malicious hacking have become commonplace.

The Defense Department's proposal, covering a work force that accounts for one-third of federal civilian employees, would represent the most sweeping implementation of the government's restrictions on foreign technology workers. The much-smaller Justice Department instituted little-noticed restrictions in July, and the Treasury Department has had a ban on noncitizens working on its communications systems since 1998.

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