Collins described the problems as triggered by a “software update” that required security guards to fill out the citizenship of everyone receiving a visitor’s pass at NIH security building, known as the Gateway Center. He also said that recent incidents show NIH is “erratic” in complying with the 2011 HHS policy. About two weeks ago, Farhadi said that security guards called NIH police and detained him for 10 to 15 minutes when he tried to donate blood at the campus. But security guards brusquely informed him that he could not enter without advance clearance. NIH Director Francis Collins sent an all-staff email on Friday apologizing for the 'mishandled' security process that blocked two Iranian scientists from entry.

Source: Washington Post April 05, 2019 18:37 UTC