Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed a former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) employee's allegations that two LLNL scientists misrepresented technical information regarding the Department of Energy's X-ray laser research program.

GAO found that: (1) LLNL X-ray laser program and LLNL management personnel, including the employee, had made statements concerning the X-ray laser's status and potential which were similar to most of the allegedly misleading statements; (2) the employee had prepared letters to administration officials to clarify one scientist's statements, but did not send them, at the request of the LLNL Director; (3) the employee presented his views on the scientists' statements to some of the officials that the scientists allegedly misled; and (4) there was no general agreement among LLNL scientists regarding the accuracy of the scientists' statements.