Inspector general blames top FBI officials for technology failures

The FBI is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into information technology projects without assurances that the money is being well spent or that projects are meeting their goals, according to a Justice Department inspector general's report.

The report criticized the FBI for failing to use management practices required by law and commonly recognized as effective to make better use of its technology assets and to make better decisions on where to invest money.

Many of these problems stem from the FBI's failure to follow "a disciplined process" of tracking technology projects, the report found. Specifically, the FBI hasn't adequately established technology investment review boards to make decisions on what to buy and to ensure that projects are meeting their goals on time.

The report singled out the FBI's Trilogy project, a $458 million effort to replace the agency's antiquated computers and data networks with modern equipment, for harsh criticism. A lack of oversight on Trilogy "contributed to missed milestones and led to uncertainties about cost, schedule and technical goals," the report concluded.

Despite $78 million in additional funding, the FBI missed a July 2002 deadline for upgrading equipment in its field offices, including installing new computers and networks, the inspector general found. FBI officials reported that this phase wouldn't be completed until March 2003.

"The management problems associated with Trilogy demonstrate the FBI's urgent need for enhanced IT investment management," the report said.

Technological shortcomings have hampered the FBI's efforts to pursue criminals and terrorists. For example, agents in different field offices investigating the Sept. 11 hijackers after the attacks couldn't exchange pictures of the suspects via e-mail. The agency's cumbersome and disjointed electronic case management system is rarely used by agents, and was blamed for the loss of thousands of documents related to the trial of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

Critics of the FBI, including historians and officials who have served on committees investigating the agency's problems, have repeatedly cited senior officials' lack of interest in managing technology as a top cause of its failings. One former FBI chief information officer told inspector general investigators that ineffective oversight by top officials had kept project managers from being held accountable for cost overruns, schedule delays and the ultimate performance of technology projects. Senior FBI officials told the investigators that the bureau's budget process only takes into account the up-front purchase cost of information technology, and doesn't account for the cost of operating and maintaining equipment. The Trilogy program began during the tenure of former FBI Director Louis Freeh. Current director Robert Mueller is widely regarded as more technologically savvy than Freeh, and he has said that the Trilogy project is a key fix for the bureau's troubles. The inspector general made 30 recommendations for "specific and immediate steps the FBI should take," including ensuring that members of investment review boards receive proper training and that plans for technology projects include cost and schedule controls. Such actions "are fundamental to any project management endeavor," the report said, not just technology projects.