Accusations are flying in Washington following recent news of damaging national security leaks, including details of a covert cyber attack on Iran.

The leaks were revealed in two New York Times reports and contained secrets they say compromise America's national security as well as U.S. allies.

For example, the leaks included details on a "kill list" of militants targeted in drone strikes and an undercover investigation targeting al Qaeda's Yemen branch.

Click play for comments from Cliff May, president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, on how national security leaks have become such a big problem.

Now, a bipartisan group of lawmakers plans to draw legislation to restrict classified intelligence and punish those who can't keep security secrets.

"To have all four of us come forward today and talk about the severity of these leaks I hope sends a very clear message about how dangerous this has become," Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., said.

"When people say they don't want to work in the United States because they can't trust us to keep a secret, that's serious," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., added.

Some Republicans have called for a special prosecutor to investigate the leaks.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., accused Obama administration officials of leaking the information to help the president look strong on national security.

"It is difficult to escape the conclusion that these recent leaks of highly classified information, all of which have the effect of making the president look strong and decisive on national security in the middle of his re-election campaign, have a deeper political motivation," McCain said.

White House spokesman Jay Carney quickly shot down that allegation, calling McCain's comments "grossly irresponsible."