DHS Failure to Integrate Management Systems Results in Scrapped Programs, Wasted Taxpayer Dollars

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, March 1, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) will chair a hearing of the Oversight, Investigations & Management Subcommittee to examine the extent to which the Department of Homeland Security has made progress integrating its management systems that are essential to protect air travelers, secure our borders, and enforce our immigration laws.

The hearing, “Building One DHS: Why Can’t Management Information be Integrated?” will examine several findings by the Government Accountability Office, including:

Increased costs and the failure of key programs, including $230 million spent on the Advanced Spectroscopic Portal radiation detection program, as a result of mismanagement, redundancies and inefficient use of resources.  

DHS lacks effective program management, clear roles and processes for program governance, sharing of best practices, and access to timely, reliable and analyzed data on more than $18 billion in acquisitions and investments.

DHS remains on the GAO’s High Risk listfor waste, fraud and mismanagement because of its failure to integrate its management practices.

Only 2 of 31 Key Outcomesfor this high-risk area have been fully addressed as of December 2011.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

                        TIME:              10:00AM ET

                        LOCATION:                311 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C.
Live Web Stream on Committee Website

WITNESSES:

Mr. Rafael Borras, Under Secretary for Management, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Mr. David Maurer, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Team, Government Accountability Office

Mr. Charles K. Edwards, Acting Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Chairman McCaul on the Hearing:
“Nearly a decade after the Department of Homeland Security was created, its agencies that thwart terrorist attacks by protecting air travelers, securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws continue to operate in vacuums with vast duplication of administrative functions.  Because of this, DHS management integration continues to be on the Government Accountability Office's High Risk list for waste, fraud, abuse or in need of broad reform.  Integrating basic management information is necessary to effectively run any large organization.  Industry has demonstrated, through mergers and acquisitions, management information integration can be accomplished effectively.  Without it, it is impossible for any manager, either Government or private corporation, to conduct oversight, prevent duplicative programs, save taxpayer dollars or effectively carry out the organization's mission – in this case protecting the American people.  Although Secretary Napolitano has said she wants to build "One DHS," without integrating core management functions a “OneDHS” will not happen, and equally important taxpayer dollars will be wasted.”  

# # #