TOPICS
TOPICS
Federal Protective Service moves out of immigration bureau
The embattled Federal Protective Service, which is responsible for guarding government buildings, has been transferred from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau to the National Protection and Programs Directorate. It is still part of the Homeland Security Department.
In announcing the transfer, DHS said the move will streamline decision-making and align the security of federal buildings with the department's broader critical infrastructure protection mission. No changes in mission, workforce or employment are expected, according to Homeland Security.
"Securing government facilities is a vital aspect of DHS' critical infrastructure protection mission," said Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. "Transferring FPS to NPPD will enhance oversight and efficiency while maximizing the department's overall effectiveness in protecting federal buildings across the country."
In its fiscal 2010 budget request, the White House recommended the transfer of FPS, and Homeland Security's spending bill -- signed into law on Oct. 28 -- included the provision.
When Homeland Security was created in 2002, FPS was reassigned from the General Services Administration to ICE, prompting criticism. In June 2008, after a series of scathing reports from the Government Accountability Office on FPS, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C. called the move "lethal" and "perhaps fatal."
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, applauded the move as a good first step toward revitalizing the troubled agency. Thompson plans to hold a hearing in November on FPS.
The reorganization will allow both FPS and ICE to focus on their primary, and very distinct, missions. The National Protection and Programs Directorate will assist FPS in securing GSA-owned and leased facilities by performing building security assessments and deploying countermeasures to handle identified security risks. ICE will be better able to focus on "smart and effective enforcement of immigration and customs laws," according a statement from Homeland Security.
FPS and NPPD already have been working together on several initiatives, particularly the National Infrastructure Protection Plan and the creation of a governmentwide physical security policy.
COMMENTS
- Any organization is only as good as its leadership. Post 9/11 FPS made minor progress forward in some areas. The decision to assign the agency to ICE only served to further compound the organizations struggle with its defining role. ICE looked at FPS as a liability not as a resource. With a director who tells his organization (privately and publicly), they are fundamentally incompetent with respect to 50% of their primary mission. Add to that the implementation policy and procedures that are empty to support the burden and mission of the agency. One size fits all approach to national issues. Ultimately, the fundamental absence of technical critical infrastructure and support; prevents and endangers those who serve from completing their mission. The internal struggles continue to tear at the very foundation of the workforce. If an agency is going to present their staff as uniformed law enforcement officers with a special skill to assess, determine and implement security needs of a facility; then those charged with the leadership have to make clearly defined mission statements. The mission has to address issues in priority; safety then security. If that agency is going to have uniformed officers, then they have to be cops first and security specialist second. Any FPS uniformed personnel who carry themselves “security” first, “law enforcement” second; is woefully endangering themselves and those who they are sworn to protect. FPS has been treated as orphans in a third world country by their parent organizations, until they are recognized and treated appropriately; there will continue to be a distorted, frustrated and ineffective organization floundering in an effort to protect federal facilities. Two-Cents Posted November 19, 2009 1:49 PM
- The next step is to call for the removal of the FPS Director Gary Schenkel who has ran this Great Agency of our into the ground and he is still following Julie Myers lead ,he is still loyal to her because she was the one who hired him under the Bush Administration, Homeland Security Secretary or the Head of NPPD should call for his removal, this guy calls us Law Enforcement Security Officers(LESO) sounds like a Glorified Security Guard, remember that title when meeting with your next BSC and head of major law enforcement agencies . This man has never been a cop on the streets and he and John Ulianko are leaches sucking the life out of this agency. The Union, if they have any back bone should call for the removal of these two. ICY BALLS Posted November 5, 2009 6:46 PM
- Am I correct that the FPS will be the largest component in NP&PD both by FTE and contracting dollars? Also the only uniformed personnel and armed and badged? Please do a comment on the NP&PD? William R. Cumming Posted November 5, 2009 11:32 AM
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