Report Says DHS Plagued by Poor Management

Is the Department of Homeland Security still plagued by poor management? It is, says a new report from the DHS inspector general. What has the DHS still not done?

In an article on the Government Executive website, Jill R. Aitoro says the report, released last week, found that part of the issue was the department failing to integrate its IT infrastructure across all of the department’s agencies.

“The inspector general updates the assessment of management challenges annually, as part of the DHS Annual Financial Report,” Aitoro says. “Past reports have been sharply critical of top management for not making enough progress. This latest report continues in the same vein.”

In the report, the IG outlined the biggest management challenges facing the DHS. They included:

• Catastrophic disaster response and recovery;
• Acquisition management;
• Grants management;
• Financial management;
• Information technology management;
• Infrastructure protection;
• Border security;
• Transportation security; and
• Trade operations and security.

“The Department of Homeland Security ... has worked to accomplish the largest reorganization of the federal government in more than half a century,” the report said. “While DHS has made progress, it still has much to do to establish a cohesive, efficient and effective organization.”

To read the full article, click here: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0208/020108j1.htm