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Return to Article: Resignations leave void in top Homeland Security management ranks

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  You guys in ICE think you have it bad and that CBP is the place to be! Well, we got Bonner, and we were lucky. However, CBP is not without some significant mis-management problems. When INS saw the writing on the wall, that its' days were numbered, they promoted everyone they possibly could. Overnight, without competition, hugh number of GS-11 (so call Senior Inspectors) suddenly became GS-12 supervisors; many supervisors were promoted to GS-13/14. This was all done right up until we were combined into CBP. Our DFO is former INS adjudicator; and in our Area Port (three ports and three stations) eight (8) out twelve (12) management positions are filled with former INS Inspectors. Most had little or no supervisory experience. However, all hold a grudge against former Customs Inspectors, and they take it out on them everyday. Oh, and by the way; what little coordination there was between Customs and the Border Patrol fefore this mess, has long gone. BP doesn't even talk to CBP unless they of course want something. Three more CBP Officer quit since October, and three have elected early retirement. Moral is at its' lowest point in more than 20 years. If ICE ever moves to CBP, make certain that these former INS people, now mid-level and upper management are not in charge of you. It is so sad.

  CBP Officer

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 2, 2005 1:50 AM
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  I don't think that we should be as worried about the political hacks leaving who screwed this up from the beginning as much as DHS/ICE should be worried about the people who actually do the work getting out as fast as possible. The political appointees mean nothing in terms of contribution to the organization.

  With a hiring freeze entering a second year, and employees leaving at the current rate you would think the Department would voice some concern. The amount of work only continues to increase, and employees are leaving in droves. The future is not bright, and it would be nice if our leadership would stop trying to fool us.

  Special Agent Posted January 30, 2005 5:44 PM
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  Forget about Chertoff. I nominate Ronald McDonald as the new DHS Secretary. Pee Wee Herman can be his Deputy. Curious George should replace Hutchinson as Undersecretary, and Bozo the Clown should take over as Assistant Secretary for ICE. Together, this team would possess the necessary skills, fortitude, and respect to lead DHS further than the current leadership. I would have no doubts about the ability of their combined experience and leadership skills in forging this organization into something much better than it is now.

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 28, 2005 4:23 PM
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  It amazes me how Customs and Border Protection survived this disgraceful episode of DHS mis-management. It is a testament of the leadership skills of the CBP Commissioner and the quality of professionals that lead the CBP organization. Contrast CBP with Immigration and Customs Enforcement who with the leadership of Michael Garcia has turned ICE into the laughing stock of Federal law enforcement. ICE will not be able to get back on its feet. With all the bailouts and early retirements by many discouraged senior investigators, ICE will be left with a relatively new investigative force that will have trouble performing without the guidance of experienced investigators. The best approach may just be what the investigators in ICE, do not want to hear; give all of our moneylaundering, esport enforcement, and international drug smuggling jurisdictional authority to the FBI and the DEA and let ICE do what the Justice department wants us to do. Process illegal aliens. ICE is not CBP, our worst enemy is Garcia not the FBI or DEA. They are just opportunist. My advice to the younger agents is to file your employment application with the DEA, FBI, ATF, SS, or any IG office that is hiring, as soon as possible. Don't be suckered into thinking that once Garcia leaves things will get better. Its too late.

  close to retirement Posted January 28, 2005 4:05 PM
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  The fact that top level managers are bailing faster than rats on a sinking ship should come as no surprise.

  Ridge, Loy, Hutchinson, etc. all know that DHS is a losing proposition. When a ranking legislator tells DHS "You'd better make do with the money your getting this year", just after respected government analysts and academics have testified that the money budgeted isn't nearly enough, the top leadership isn't stupid. They're going to bail to the lucrative private sector jobs with high 6 and 7 figure salaries, with the money, staff and equipment they'll need (and demand, before they take the job) to perform the task at hand.

  As for the poor slobs at the bottom of this now wastepile called DHS, we'll be forced to suffer the indignities of decreasing budgets, along with the lack of staffing, equipment, office space and competent management needed to perform our task. Or, with everything that's been given away by top managers to the FBI, DEA, etc., just what exactly was that task...terrorism?

  We're such a mess, it's pathetic. What a shame.

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 28, 2005 1:41 PM
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  Not unless you count the continuous downward spiral that we've been in!

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 27, 2005 5:11 PM
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  Let's not forget the first Deputy Secretary of DHS, Gordon England, who left after only a few months to return to his former position of Secretary of the Navy; Michael Dougherty, ICE Director of Operations; Amit Yoram, Director of the National Cyber Security Division; Clark Kent Ervin, the Inspector General, who was dismissed after producing several reports critical of DHS's job performance; and numerous others. Do you see a pattern here? DHS is the Frankenstein of the federal government, thrown together from diverse agencies and artificially brought to life.

  ICE is a mess, and nobody is willing to make the hard choices which include admitting a mistake was made in putting Customs and INS agents, whose jobs have nothing in common, together, along with the Federal Protective Service(!) and Federal Air Marshals. Not to mention the lack of mission focus, the loss of jurisdiction to the FBI and other agencies, low morale, lousy administrative systems, and enormous budget problems.

  Mr. Ridge is abandoning this sinking ship, but not before imposing MAXHR on DHS, which is another disaster in the making. Thanks, Tom, for nothing! Mr. Chertoff, good luck, sir, you'll need it, especially in attracting new managers to DHS. It's unwieldy, unmanagable, and worst of all, unnecessary, as it was created as a knee-jerk reaction to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Who would want to come here, especially when you consider that you'll be blamed when (not if) the next terrorist attacks take place, even though DHS has no authority to investigate terrorism. We can only do what the FBI lets us do, as they claim primary jurisdiction in terrorism matters. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the American people have a right to know what is and isn't being done to protect them. The same goes for the President and the Congress, who need to take care of this mess, immediately!

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 27, 2005 4:17 PM
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  The article states, "Unfortunately, that means whatever momentum exists in DHS is probably going to stall for the short term..."

  This is a very presumptuous quote... It presumes a momentum that I have never seen any evidence of.

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 27, 2005 3:37 PM