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Integrating and transforming agencies into the Homeland Security Department continues to be a "high-risk area" for the government with "serious consequences" for national security, according to the Government Accountability Office.

"DHS has made some progress, but significant management challenges remain to transform DHS into a more efficient organization while maintaining and improving its effectiveness in securing the homeland," auditors said in a report (GAO-05-573T) released Wednesday.

Ongoing challenges include providing focused management, monitoring transformation and integration, improving strategic planning, managing human capital, strengthening financial management infrastructure, establishing an information technology management framework, managing acquisitions, and coordinating research and development.

"Failure to effectively carry out its mission continues to expose the nation to potentially serious consequences," GAO added.

The watchdog agency first designated DHS integration and management a high-risk area in 2003.

"Since our 2003 designation of DHS's transformation as high-risk, DHS leadership has provided a foundation for maintaining critical operations while undergoing transformation," the report stated.

For example, DHS has reduced the number of financial management service centers from 19 to 8, consolidated acquisition support for 22 legacy agencies within eight major procurement programs, consolidated 22 different human resources offices to seven, and consolidated bank card programs from 27 to 3.

Despite "real and hard-earned progress," however, DHS still has significant challenges to overcome in all of its management areas, the report added.

The report noted that it can take 5 to 7 years to successfully transform large public and private organizations. Although DHS has been operating for about two years, it has had two secretaries, three deputy secretaries, and additional turnover at the undersecretary and assistant secretary levels. The report noted that the average tenure of political leadership in all federal agencies averaged slightly less than three years from 1990 to 2001.

"While it is understood that a transformation of this magnitude takes time, and that DHS's immediate focus has been on its homeland security mission, we see the need for DHS to increase its focus on management issues," GAO said. "This is important not only to DHS itself, but also to the nation's homeland security efforts, because, in addition to managing its own organization, DHS plays a larger role in managing homeland security and in coordinating with the activities of other federal, state, local, and private stakeholders."

COMMENTS

• The Pope Benedict message was the most "righteous" I have read here in a while.... Pope of INS Posted April 26, 2005 2:53 PM
• Now that Pope Benedict XVI has been elected, I hear that he is planning to dissolve the Vatican council in order to merge it with equivalent entities of some of the leadership within Islam. The plan would be to have two new religious orders created from the factions of Catholicism and Islam. One would be called "Islamic and Catholic Enlightenment" (or "ICE"), and the other would be called "Catholic and Biblical Philosophy" (or "CBP"). In the process, all priests will have to be cross-trained as Imams, and vice-versa. (The cross-training is expected to be accomplished over the course of a two-week session.) Because of expected budget problems, "Islamic and Catholic Enlightenment" will be expected to put a freeze on all hiring, training, travel, and cell phone usage for at least of couple of years. They may also have to carpool to church. It is also expected that many traditional areas of both Catholic and Islamic undertakings will be turned over to the Orthodox Jewish movement in Israel as well as the Church of Latter-day Saints. I heard Asa Hutchinson was on hand in Rome last week to talk about how this idea makes sense seeing as the two groups are "constantly tripping over each other" in their respective religious endeavors. If the U.S. Attorney gig doesn’t work out for Michael Garcia, there might be an opening for him as a Spiritual Advisor. GovExec.com reader Posted April 25, 2005 1:20 PM
• No wonder the DHS has problems. It was a tragic mistake that has cost the taxpayers millions, and only marginally increased our national security. Each job affected, Immigration, Customs, Agriculture, etc. is fundamentally a complete career. Forcing recruits to learn 3 or 4 different jobs does not save us money. Those of us on the 'front lines', at the air, land and seaports know this. One face at the border is a sad joke. It took another couple of years to begin to force the real culprits together (CIA, FBI, DEA)and they're STILL not cooperating! Sometimes a 'divorce'is the best way to end a bad marriage. Well, let each agency do its job, have more staff meetings, and let the public be properly served by professionals, not officers who are inadequately trained/motivated. GovExec.com reader Posted April 24, 2005 5:17 PM