Delays in vital security programs frustrate Democrats

Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee expressed frustration Tuesday that the Homeland Security Department has not made more progress in implementing key security programs and improving its internal management.

The committee held a hearing to examine a recent Government Accountability Office report listing progress the department has made and major gaps that still exist within security programs.

"Simply put, the GAO report confirmed what I and this committee have suspected for a while now -- that is the department has failed to complete major projects, programs and plans critical to fulfilling critical homeland security missions," House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said.

Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., added: "There just seems to be some sort of malaise in the agency that I think is really critical that we get past."

Paul Schneider, the department's undersecretary for management, told the committee the department believes GAO used flawed methodology and "vague, shifting criteria" for its report.

He argued that GAO provided detailed analysis of department programs that was "fairly accurate," but misrepresented how much progress was being made on individual programs.

Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., shot back: "It seems to me that once again the department is just passing the buck and instead of admitting that its goals have not been met ... what we're hearing from DHS is excuses."

Homeland Security Border Subcommittee Chairwoman Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., said several programs within her subcommittee's jurisdiction are missing the mark.

Sanchez cited delays with the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program, which is supposed to give seaport workers a secure biometric-based identification card. Also behind schedule, she said, are department efforts to develop a system that uses biometrics to verify when foreigners leave the country.

Schneider said the department plans to begin the TWIC program Oct. 1 at the Port of Wilmington in Delaware. He was unable to say when a system to track foreigners leaving the country will be up and running.

Lawmakers were also frustrated that the department sent Schneider to testify, as he has only been in his position for nine months. Thompson said the committee wanted Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson to testify.

Comptroller General David Walker defended GAO's report, saying he stands by the methodology his agency used.

He said that the department has made progress in improving the nation's security. "Here's the bottom line: Are we safer than we were on Sept. 11, 2001? Absolutely," Walker said.

Walker said GAO has had problems getting access to people and documents inside the department, as well as being allowed to observe exercises. He said he wrote Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff a letter Sept. 10 complaining about the situation.

"It ranks below average with the timeliness of getting information to us," Walker said of the department.

Walker said Chertoff sent GAO a letter Tuesday pledging to improve access to people, documents and exercises.

Walker also thinks Congress should consolidate oversight of the department. Indeed, Schneider testified before two separate committees Tuesday.

The 9/11 Commission recommended that Congress create a single point of oversight for homeland security affairs. Although Democrats pledged during last year's election to implement all of the commission's recommendations, they failed to follow through on that one.

"I think the bottom line is that Congress needs to consolidate and integrate its responsibilities with regard to the Department of Homeland Security," Walker said.