Texas Insider Report: Washington D.C. When we have failed programs and see taxpayer dollars wasted thats not only a management issue it is an issue that puts the American people more at risk said Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) chairman of the Homeland Security Oversight Investigations & Management Subcommittee about the lack of management integration between the Department of Homeland Securitys 22 agencies.
McCaul said such dis-connects have led to billions of taxpayer dollars being wasted and the departments inability to implement key security programs. A bipartisan congressional subcommittee hearing Thursday revealed as much.
Its an issue that prohibits the department from doing its core mission and that is protecting the homeland said Rep. McCaul referencing the failed Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) program meant to more accurately and efficiently detect radiation in cargo entering the United States through land and sea ports including the Port of Houston.
After a $230 million taxpayer investment DHS canceled the program last year because it was over budget and did not meet detection expectations. Cited among the shortfalls were an unacceptable number of false positive readings.
If this is in the private sector a private company heads would have rolled over this thing Chairman McCaul stated adding that a private company would go bankrupt.
You have to make this agency the best security agency in the world and the most efficient. You have an awesome responsibility said Congressman Tom Marino (R-PA).
Sometimes not investing up front is gonna cost you more down the road and not only is that a cost in dollars its a cost in safety said Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA) the subcommittees Ranking Member urging DHS to prioritize management integration in its budget.
DHS told the committee that integration improvements are in the works.
Those programs in the past suffered from the lack of oversight. There was no mechanism to review. Now we have a robust acquisition review process Rafael Borras the DHS Under Secretary for Management testified.
The Government Accountability Office testified DHS has been generally responsive to address the GAOs high risk designation. However the strategy did not address the root causes of problems said the GAOs David Maurer.
They havent always executed on those plans so I think thats the first thing going forward.
Finds Bipartisan Agreement: DHS Mismanagement Affects Mission Performance 
