Texas A&M University officials say U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry wasn't involved in a 2.5 billion dollar nuclear weapons lab contract that partly went to his alma mater.
They say the National Nuclear Security Administration had favorably scored their proposal to manage Los Alamos National Laboratory before the former Texas governor signed off. Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp and Perry were friends at the school. Texas A&M will help manage the facility with Columbus-based Battelle Memorial Institute. The NSSA awarded the contract last month and previously said Perry played no role in the evaluation or selection. Federal officials are looking to get the lab back on track after safety lapses and missed goals.
