Chertoff sees too many congressional hearings, demands

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told a key House Republican Tuesday the time and resources his department spends reporting to Congress and preparing for hearings has created an "unnecessary burden" and should be corrected by consolidating oversight.

"In my view, the problem is getting worse rather than better," Chertoff wrote in a letter to House Homeland Security ranking member Peter King, R-N.Y.

Chertoff said the department reports to 86 committees and subcommittees, and will likely spend a total of about 15,000 work hours this year supporting formal congressional hearings.

"Moreover, the number of very detailed written reports required of DHS by Congress is proliferating at an alarming rate," Chertoff said.

"Arguably, the most important step Congress can take to improve operational effectiveness at DHS at this juncture is to streamline congressional oversight of DHS," he added. "This would allow DHS to focus our time and resources much more effectively on our critical missions, while preserving an appropriate level of congressional oversight. I urge Congress to implement this vital reform."

Chertoff and other Homeland Security officials will be placed in the hot seat this week as they appear at two more hearings before the House Homeland Security Committee.

Chertoff will testify Wednesday on overall department operations. Aides said he could be asked about the possibility of replacing outgoing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and about the Bush administration's controversial move to use spy satellites for homeland security and law enforcement.

A hearing Thursday will focus specifically on the privacy and civil liberties implications of the satellite program.

King is a leading advocate for consolidating congressional oversight.

"Secretary Chertoff clearly understands the detrimental effect that dysfunctional congressional oversight is having on DHS and our national security, and it's time Congress and the Democratic leadership got that message as well," King said.

The 9/11 Commission recommended that Congress create single, primary points of oversight for Homeland Security affairs. Democrats did not include such a provision in a recently enacted law to implement the commission's unfulfilled recommendations.

Instead, House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., asked the Government Accountability Office last month to review whether Congress' oversight structure is negatively affecting Homeland Security activities.

Thompson asked GAO to compare congressional oversight of Homeland Security to other federal departments and agencies. Democrats have tried to walk a fine line in the debate over Homeland Security oversight. One Democratic aide said party officials agree the department reports to too many committees and subcommittees. But the aide added that a lot of oversight and investigation into the department's activities would still be needed, even if oversight was consolidated.

"We're doing our due diligence," the aide said. "Welcome to the world of oversight."

According to Chertoff, as of Aug. 24 the department has participated in 159 hearings this year, compared to 206 in 2006 and 166 in 2005. It had provided 1,793 briefings to Congress as of Aug. 24, compared to 2,242 for 2006 and 2,082 for 2005.

The department estimates it will submit 535 reports to Congress this year.

"It goes without saying that the total amount of DHS management time consumed to provide at least 535 reports annually is very considerable, including both actual hours expended and the opportunity cost of management hours at a very busy department," Chertoff wrote.

The Democratic aide countered, however, that the department has a high number of positions that are either vacant or filled in a temporary capacity.

"If they're being stretched so thin and they can't do the reports mandated by Congress, perhaps Mr. Chertoff should fill some of those vacancies," the aide said.