Abraham Vows Zero Tolerance for Bias

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham will issue a departmentwide memo declaring that discrimination against employees will not be tolerated, an aide said.

Allegations of racial profiling of Asian American employees first arose after nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee was accused of spying for China. The agency’s internal watchdog recently reported finding no evidence to support claims that four Asian American workers were treated unfairly.

Abraham’s memo makes clear that “any practice of racial profiling shall be eliminated and prevented from occurring in the department,” spokesman Joseph Davis said. It continues: “Sound management must be practiced . . . to create and maintain a respectful and productive work environment free of profiling, discrimination and fear.”