GAO faults agencies for lack of coordination on interoperability

A GAO report released on December 12 found that the DHS, the DOJ, and the Treasury Department are no longer coordinating with each other to develop the Integrated Wireless Network (IWN) program – a nationwide federal wireless communications service for use by first responders.

GAO report criticizes DHS procurement

From USA Today:
A GAO report scheduled for release today says DHS has done a poor job overseeing the purchase of billions of dollars of equipment and technology since the agency was created five years ago.  Senior department officials have “not provided the oversight needed” to ensure that purchases “with important national security objectives” function properly [...]

GAO outlines 13 critical HS priorities for Obama administration

Defense readiness and spending; food safety; preparing for large-scale health emergencies; and homeland security are among a list of 13 “urgent issues” the Government Accountability Office (GAO) “has identified as among those needing the attention of President-elect [Barack] Obama and the 111th Congress during the transition and the first year of the new administration and [...]

GAO report on NAO disputes Chertoff claims of compliance

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released its full public report on the status of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Applications Office (NAO) compliance with current legal, privacy and civil liberties standards.
On April 9, 2008, in a letter to Members of Congress, DHS secretary Michael Chertoff certified that the NAO complies with [...]

BioSafety Labs fail GAO perimeter security tests

From HSToday:

Three out of five of the nation’s top biosafety laboratories have poor perimeter security measures, prompting congressional investigators to recommend that the CDC, which regulates the labs, review their security and consider upgrades.
The GAO conducted the review for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and published the results Thursday in a report titled [...]

GAO: HSIN Nextgen needs more acquisition controls

From HSToday:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is well on its way to upgrading the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) which shares threat information with state and local authorities, but the department could benefit from increased management of the purchase of the next generation system, according to a report from the GAO published Wednesday.
DHS could [...]

President signs bill turning military spy satellites on U.S.

An appropriations bill signed by President Bush last week allows the controversial National Applications Office (NAO) to begin operating a stringently limited version of a program which would turn military spy satellites on the United States, sharing imagery with other federal, state, and local government agencies.
Both Congress and the GAO have expressed concern that the [...]

GAO: DHS port radiation detection may end up $1 billion over budget

In a briefing for lawmakers and staff on Tuesday, the Government Accountability Office estimated the cost of the Homeland Security Department’s program to equip ports of entry with radiation detection equipment will be $3.1 billion. That’s $1 billion more than the agency told the White House and Congress it would cost last spring.

Full article

GAO Delivers Report Critical of DHS Information Sharing

The GAO delivered a report on DHS progress toward Homeland Security information sharing.  The report was mostly critical of DHS, though some industry observers say it was too critical, not giving DHS enough credit for what they’ve accomplished.
Congress Gets Report Card on Homeland Security Information Sharing
Testimony of Charles E. Allen before the U.S. House of [...]