DHS science and technology chief pledges to bolster staff

The new chief of science and technology at the Homeland Security Department told lawmakers on Thursday that he is taking steps to address staffing issues within his directorate.

These include recruiting officials from the private sector to fill job openings, said Jay Cohen, DHS' undersecretary for science and technology, at a House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology hearing. The hearing marked Cohen's first appearance before the subcommittee following his swearing-in less than a month ago.

Members made clear their dissatisfaction with staffing woes and a lack of transparency surrounding research spending at the DHS directorate.

"You're now in the hot seat," said Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., chairman of the subcommittee.

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., ranking member of the subcommittee, told Cohen that "both sides of the aisle across the House and Senate" are growing increasingly frustrated with DHS' turnover issues.

Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-N.C., said despite Cohen's recent arrival on the job, it is his responsibility to quickly fill "literally dozens of vacancies in high-level positions."

Science and technology research at DHS would benefit from better financial support, Etheridge added. He criticized an attempt by DHS officials to take funding that was slated for explosives detection and shift it to help make up for a budget shortfall at the Federal Protective Service.

Cohen said he may collaborate with colleges and universities on research and development and he asked lawmakers for their patience.

In a separate development, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, asked Kip Hawley, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, for details on his agency's collaboration with the science and technology directorate.

The directorate recently initiated several air cargo pilot programs, alongside other measures, to heighten security for air travelers. In a Sept. 6 letter to Hawley, Thompson asked how TSA will implement lessons learned in the science and technology air cargo pilots.

Thompson also asked Hawley for information on the possible resignation or removal of three top air cargo security officials. TSA's acting assistant general manager and section chief of the air cargo programs, and the senior adviser for air cargo technology and plans are all slated to leave, Thompson said.

"The instability within TSA's cargo policy and outreach positions severely hinders TSA's air cargo efforts and could not come at a worse time," Thompson wrote.

Thompson was not at the subcommittee hearing Thursday.