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Homeland Security Department officials said they plan to eliminate duplicative practices and unnecessary bureaucracy in an effort to integrate intelligence, policy and operations.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he plans to announce recommendations and changes in about a month, based on the departmentwide review he initiated in March.

"This comprehensive review is examining what we are doing and what we need to do without regard to component structures and programmatic categories," Chertoff told the House Government Reform Committee.

Chertoff said his intent is to integrate intelligence, policy and operations at the most senior levels across the department.

"We cannot wait for a crisis ... to learn, for example, whether the Transportation Security Administration has the capability to communicate effectively and coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency," he said in written testimony. "Nor can we learn in crisis that both are conducting the same operations or sending different messages to the private sector."

The first phase of the review has been completed and focused on gathering input from every agency within the department concerning policies, operations, organization and gaps, according to Al Martinez-Fonts, special assistant to the secretary, and Coast Guard Rear Adm. Tim Sullivan.

"We're looking to eliminate duplication," Sullivan said.

The first phase generated 300 suggestions. Based on those responses, 18 action teams were formed to examine such areas as risk readiness, immigration policy, supply chain security, performance metrics and intelligence operations.

About 230 people participated on the teams. Martinez-Fonts and Sullivan said common themes were identified across agencies, such as the need for better intelligence sharing and more effective and efficient screening of people and cargo.

Chertoff said he will meet with the action teams during the next three weeks to determine the organizational changes that should be made.

"Take an issue such as maritime cargo security, which cuts across several departmental components," he said in his testimony. "Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard, Science and Technology, Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Transportation Security Administration each address aspects of this overall mission. Each might perform its element well, but we must go further to ensure that each is performing seamlessly and in coordination with the others, that we eliminate any duplication of effort and that we reap the full strength of our wide spectrum of capabilities."

With regard to integrating intelligence, Chertoff said the department needs "to fuse and exploit all the information that we learn across the country."

He said he is committed to making sure that law enforcement and intelligence officials have access to the department's information and analysis, when it is appropriate and legal to do so while protecting privacy and civil rights.

"By the same token, we must sit as full partners at the table with full access to others in the intelligence community," he stated. "I will work closely with the director of national intelligence, whose job is to make sure that the intelligence community is well-coordinated and mission-focused."

Chertoff said the review is "closely studying" whether a departmentwide policy office should be established. The secretary said also that legacy agencies within the department don't work together to address shared missions. "It can no longer be the case that different components tackle different problems, each in its own way, and then later look to see if the pieces fit together," he said.

COMMENTS

• Update: 6/15/05... A report in U.S. News & World Report states that Mr. Certoff's plans to reorganize DHS are being held up by OMB, as they don't seem to like Mr. Chertoff's plans for TSA and FEMA. Another report in the media states that ICE's budget is set to be reduced over FY 2005 levels. Can things get ANY worse? What is going on here? Just about every alphabet agency seems to be able to dictate DHS and ICE's destiny except DHS and ICE itself. Mr. Chertoff, tell the executive branch this: If they are not going to give you the respect due and latitude required for you to reshape this mess called DHS and ICE, maybe it's time that they relieve you of your role as DHS Secretary and return you to the Federal bench (God knows why you left anyway, Sir; Lord knows, most others wouldn't). When and if you get an answer, please let the rank and file know so that we can plan our futures accordingly - it's the least (and only decent thing) you can do for your employees. Pathetic, shameful AND disgraceful. GovExec.com reader Posted June 16, 2005 5:18 PM
• Can you blame anyone in ICE for being cynical about any reorganization? The failure to utilize commonsense management principles in forming this agency are too numerous to count. We've become so used to forcing square pegs into round holes that it's mind numbing to think that more illogical changes will be mandated by the unknowing attorneys that run our agency. At least put some direction and priorities back into our agency. 1. Garcia has to go. Group Sup. ICE GovExec.com reader Posted June 16, 2005 9:42 AM
• Interesting how Mr. Chertoff wants almost immediate implementation of what is sure to be a doomed personnel "reform" system, but is waiting almost a month to unveil other "reforms". Almost one-third of ICE's SACs are either resigning or retiring this year, many of them SES-level administrators. The reason? No senior level manager wants to stick around for what appears to be a last (and what many already believe to be futile) attempt to revive the clearly dying patient that is ICE - it's too painful to watch (aside from the fact it would soil their reputations when they seek lucrative private sector jobs). The soon-to-be ex-SAC/Houston is spilling his guts about ICE's failed relationship with the FBI (and, believe it, there is NO ICE field agent who would disagree with Mr. Webber; it's just that everyone is too scared to be publicly identified saying so). And the approximately $425 million dollar supplemental that President Bush signed recently? It's seems to be almost all spent already paying off bills that ICE has been robbing Peter from to pay Paul, so ICE is no better off today than it was a year ago (is anyone in OIG or the GAO getting a handle on this?). The field agents sure hope the "wait" is worth it. "Dr." Chertoff is only going to get one, well-crafted chance to stem the bleeding before ICE, the supposed "investigative arm" of DHS, dies a quick, messy death. GovExec.com reader Posted June 9, 2005 9:30 PM