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Return to Article: Lawmakers assail DHS personnel, grants practices

• 17180
  

  Congress again has missed the point! They should be asking why Chertoff has not resigned!

  Taxpayer Posted June 6, 2006 7:36 AM
• 17149
  

  There is a very simple solution for the DHS personnel office's woes. I like that term personnel office versus human capital management: Hire some federal career HR specialists.

  Almost the entire HR program at DHS is contractors or, as I like to say, the retired HR specialist corps.

  It is really sad that they are so tone deaf over there at DHS. You want to roll out HR reform, but not listen to employees, you have to do it on a shoe string budget and you have now lost your CHCO.

  First FEMA crashes, now HR reform is going down -- how about just dismantle this failed experiment.

  HR Specialist

  GovExec.com reader Posted June 5, 2006 7:36 AM
• 17139
  

  After reading the article it is clear to me that appropriation of funds, NSPS and pay for performance is a major problem with DHS. When a crony won't work there, there is a problem.

  Bush to the rescue -- he will appoint another crony, that will fix it.

  rds Posted June 4, 2006 9:37 PM
• 17138
  

  Prillaman's departure is no surprise. But to hold back this fact to the congressional committee that was questioning him just days before just further illustrates this agency's contempt for everyone. Prillaman is just a symptom of the overall problem with the agency.

  Being from the legacy INS, I thought that nothing could be worse than the INS that I came from. Well, I was wrong. The DHS, ICE from the secretary on down to the SAC offices take the cake, they are a major failure and disgrace for all employees who have the misfortune to work for this dysfunctional agency and under their dismal direction and control.

  MAX HR and paybanding are just the rotten icing on the cake. I'm glad I'm bailing out of this sorry organization and retiring shortly. Every one else better start manning the life rafts, women and children first!

  GovExec.com reader Posted June 4, 2006 4:05 PM
• 17135
  

  It amuses me that any of this comes as a surprise to anyone!

  Respected and retired ICE employees and outside private entities have been testifying before congressional committees for some time highlighting what needs to be addressed and fixed within DHS! Most of this information has been pushed to the wayside or ignored.

  As I can only speak for the ICE concept, the idea of combining the powers of Customs and Immigration laws and regulations seems like a great and powerful idea. The implementation is a train wreck.

  First off, put ICE and CBP back together. If you wish to attack an issue, start at the place where it first starts. That is at the border. You must address the entrance of the individuals and their tools where they come in. You cannot separate the problem that exists at our borders by separating our uniformed force (CBP) and the investigators (ICE) by saying that the one takes care of the borders, and the other handles "interior enforcement." Put them back together so we can address the issue in a cohesive fashion.

  Second, if ICE is DHS' "investigative arm," ICE should be first and foremost in our fight against those who wish to harm our homeland.

  After that, if local municipalities are complaining about the lack of allocated funds, then how do they think DHS employees feel about being told not to do certain things (like repairs to government owned vehicles) due to lack of funds?

  Let's put some real teeth into immigration laws and regulations so that "undesirables" can be deported or subject to criminal violations.

  I am sure there is much more to be done but for now, let's fix DHS so it becomes a real protector of the homeland, a premier law enforcement agency and a place where people are lining up to work at, not bailing from at a unexplainable pace!

  S/A ICE, New York

  GovExec.com reader Posted June 3, 2006 3:34 PM