Photo credit: www.govexec.com

Leadership Changes at the Interior Department Amid Controversial Access Requests

Recent events at the Interior Department have led to a significant shakeup in its technology and cybersecurity leadership. High-ranking officials were dismissed following their objections to granting the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to a vital federal personnel and payroll system.

Key figures affected by the firings include Interior’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), Darren Ash; Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Stan Lowe; Associate Solicitor Tony Irish; and the Human Resources Associate Director for the Interior Business Center, Julie Bednar. These executives have been relieved of their duties, as reported by anonymous sources concerned about potential backlash.

In addition to the firings, numerous other leaders within the department’s technology division have opted for the recently extended deferred resignation offer. This shift includes prominent figures like Chief Data Officer Tod Dabolt and Chief Technology Officer Andrew Havely, highlighting a significant vacancy in the department’s tech leadership.

Alongside the CTO and CDO departures, Principal Deputy CIO June Hartley and Deputy CIO for Enterprise Services Karen Matragrano are also stepping down. Another Deputy CIO, Ken Klinner, took advantage of the initial deferred resignation offer, further illustrating the turnover in leadership.

With the removal of the CIO and CISO, only two positions remain permanently filled within their office: the Chief of Staff and Deputy CIO for the Resources Management Division. The Interior Department has refrained from commenting on these developments.

The sequence of firings follows ongoing discussions regarding access to the Federal Personnel and Payroll System (FPPS), a centralized government system essential for issuing paychecks to federal staff. Tensions escalated after Ash and Lowe were placed on administrative leave due to DOGE gaining access to the FPPS.

Reports indicate that this access potentially allows DOGE employees to alter employment statuses without proper oversight. Notably, a senior attorney was also placed on leave amid efforts from DOGE officials to secure permissions allowing them to create and delete email accounts. Senior career officials at the Interior Department had previously warned about the risks associated with providing this level of access in a risk assessment memo, which they sought to have signed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Granting administrative access to the payroll system is considered highly irregular, with one source emphasizing that only a select few within human resources typically have such permissions. They cautioned that a single error could lead to “massive issues.” A privacy assessment from 2024 outlined the system’s connections to over forty government entities, emphasizing the privacy risks posed by the sensitive data it holds, including Social Security numbers.

Darren Ash brings over 30 years of federal experience, having held CIO positions at various agencies including the Departments of Transportation, Agriculture, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. His departure reflects ongoing changes within agency technology leadership, as the current administration appears to be seeking political appointees to fill these roles. This incident underscores a growing trend where federal employees are dismissed or resign in response to requests from DOGE for access to sensitive government systems.

Stan Lowe, who has commercial and governmental experience, joined the Interior Department nearly two years ago, while Tony Irish climbed the ranks over almost two decades. Julie Bednar was poised to retire by the end of the month after a 34-year tenure in government service.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect that the Interior Department declined to comment on the situation.

Source
www.govexec.com