Report Slams Management at DHS

Weaknesses seen in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) handling of hurricane Katrina and questions over the Homeland Security department’s ability to oversee contracts worth billions of dollars have led an internal government auditor to question the strength of the department that is supposed to protect us.

The Associated Press’ Lara Lakes Jordan is reporting that the inspector general released the findings last week, slamming the department for its weaknesses. “Based on our work related to prior emergency response efforts, we have raised concerns regarding weaknesses” within those programs, the audit by Homeland Security Inspector General Richard L. Skinner said.

Lakes Jordan says FEMA was singled out in the report as a top concern, finding that several key programs, including distributing aid to disaster victims, are inadequate. “When one considers that FEMA's programs are largely administered through grants and contracts, the circumstances created by hurricanes Katrina and Rita provide an unprecedented opportunity for fraud, waste and abuse,” the report found.

However, Lakes Jordan says DHS officials responded to the audit with an 11-page point-by-point analysis. DHS spokesperson Russ Knocke told Lakes Jordan that the department is working to make programs more efficient and effective, particularly those FEMA programs now in question.

“The American public will be hearing from us, in short order, about how we intend to build the capability of FEMA into a 21st century agency, focusing on the agency’s core response and recovery mission,” Knocke told Lakes Jordan.

The report also highlighted other areas of concern, including financial reporting problems, delays in creating and installing a new personnel system, and poor coordination between border patrol officers and immigration investigators.