Senators chide administration on missed security deadlines

Two senior senators are chiding the Bush administration for missing a series of deadlines related to either reporting on or implementing efforts vital to transportation security, terrorist travel, border security and information sharing.

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card on June 10 expressing concern that efforts related to the war on terrorism are falling behind schedule or getting off-track. Collins is chairwoman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Lieberman is the ranking member.

"There are many challenges in simultaneously implementing these anti-terrorism initiatives, but the consequences of failure are unthinkable," the lawmakers wrote. "And, as we saw with 9/11, in the war on terrorism delay can be a form of failure. Initial stumbles in implementing new programs can be corrected, but problems often snowball if neglected."

The lawmakers pointed out that the administration has missed a number of deadlines under the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, which was passed in response to findings from the 9/11 commission.

According to the letter, the administration has missed deadlines related to issuing a national transportation strategy, streamlining the federal security clearance process, developing strategic plans for port security and aviation security, and reporting on several diplomatic initiatives abroad.

"The legislation we enacted has the potential to substantially enhance our defenses against terrorist attacks, but only if the executive branch works with Congress to implement effectively its provisions," the senators wrote.

The lawmakers also asked the White House to reconsider a recent decision to place the program manager for the governmentwide Information Sharing Environment under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

"Because of the placement within the ODNI, the program manager is likely to face greater challenges in implementing an information sharing network that includes agencies outside the intelligence community," the letter stated. "Indeed, we question whether the ISE program manager can provide the effective leadership and governmentwide management required of him under these circumstances."

The White House did not return calls for comment.