McCaul Hearing Finds Bipartisan Agreement: DHS Mismanagement Affects Mission Performance
March 1, 2012
AUDIO/VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_lSJBCIdGM
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The lack of management integration among the Department of Homeland Security's 22 agencies has led to billions of taxpayer dollars wasted and the department's inability to implement key security programs, a bipartisan congressional subcommittee hearing revealed Thursday.
"When we have failed programs and we see taxpayer dollars wasted, that's not only a management issue it is an issue that puts the American people more at risk," said Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX), who chairs the Homeland Security Oversight, Investigations & Management Subcommittee.
"It's an issue that prohibits the department from doing its core mission and that is protecting the homeland," said Rep. McCaul, referencing the failed Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) program meant to more accurately and efficiently detect radiation in cargo entering the United States through land and sea ports, including the Port of Houston. After a $230 million taxpayer investment, DHS canceled the program last year because it was over budget and did not meet detection expectations. Cited among the shortfalls were an unacceptable number of false positive readings.
"If this is in the private sector, a private company, heads would have rolled over this thing," Chairman McCaul stated, adding that a private company would go bankrupt.
"You have to make this agency the best security agency in the world and the most efficient. You have an awesome responsibility," said Congressman Tom Marino (R-PA).
"Sometimes not investing up front is gonna cost you more down the road and not only is that a cost in dollars it's a cost in safety," said Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA), the subcommittee's Ranking Member, urging DHS to prioritize management integration in its budget.
DHS told the committee that integration improvements are in the works. "Those programs in the past suffered from the lack of oversight. There was no mechanism to review. Now we have a robust acquisition review process," Rafael Borras, the DHS Under Secretary for Management, testified.
The Government Accountability Office testified DHS has been generally responsive to address the GAO's "high risk" designation. However, "the strategy did not address the root causes of problems," said the GAO's David Maurer. "They haven't always executed on those plans so I think that's the first thing going forward."
# # #
