DHS bureau gets first permanent chief financial officer

The government's second-largest investigative agency got its first permanent chief financial officer this week, signaling that sound fiscal management has become a top priority.

Debra Bond was appointed chief financial officer of the Homeland Security Department's troubled Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau, which is responsible for investigating and stopping criminal and terrorist activity and enforcing the nation's immigration laws.

The move was made by the new director of ICE, Julie Myers, who took over on Monday after having escaped the usual Senate confirmation process through a a controversial recess appointment from President Bush. Bond had served as acting CFO at the agency since June.

"Ms. Bond's appointment reflects my commitment to strengthening ICE's financial infrastructure," Myers said in a memorandum to employees.

ICE has struggled with budget shortfalls and financial management challenges. Fiscal problems at the agency escalated in 2004, resulting in a hiring freeze and spending restrictions lasting for more than a year. Some agents in the field said the restrictions affected their ability to adequately carry out investigations and other work.

The agency eventually received emergency funding from Congress last year, along with a sizable $4 billion budget for this year.

The Homeland Security Department's inspector general, however, noted in a recent report that financial management at ICE remains one of the department's top challenges.

"In [fiscal] 2005, ICE continues to struggle with financial management and reporting problems previously reported," the report said.

Auditors were unable to determine whether ICE was in violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act, which bars agencies from spending funds in excess of a given appropriation, because the agency had not adequately maintained accounting records, the IG added.

Bond, who was not available for an interview Thursday, arrived at ICE last January as special assistant for finance. She first joined DHS in October 2004 to work in the office of the chief strategist for the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program, which screens foreigners coming into the country. At the time, she was project manager for complying with a presidential directive on implementing terrorist-related screening procedures.

Prior to joining Homeland Security, Bond worked for the Office of Management and Budget. She also served as the acting budget director of the Transportation Security Administration from April to August 2002, before DHS was created.

Bond worked at TSA during a turbulent period, as well. At the time, the agency was rushing to hire tens of thousands of airport screeners. The DHS inspector general recently concluded that TSA's management of the contract to hire the screeners was riddled with problems, allowing costs to escalate from $104 million to $741 million.

In related news, Myers also named Gary Lang to serve as the agency's permanent chief of staff. Lang had been in the position on an acting basis. Previously, he was ICE's assistant director of investigations and deputy assistant director of the agency's National Security Investigations division.