Ranking Member Thompson Introduces Legislation to Mandate Accuracy and Quality Control of Terrorist Watchlist After GAO Audit
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced introduction of legislation he sponsored to ensure good governance of the Federal government’s terrorist watchlist program. After the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted an audit - requested by Ranking Member Thompson - of Federal watchlisting programs, it found that hundreds of U.S. persons may have been mistakenly placed on the watchlist. GAO also found that redress options are not codified into law and that watchlist quality control and accuracy are not mandated. Ranking Member Thompson’s bill, the Terrorist Watchlist Data Accuracy and Transparency Act (H.R. 4971) would change this and mandate various levels of reviews of information used to support Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nominations to the watchlist.
“It is critical the Federal government has a watchlisting program that is accurate and well managed. The terror watchlist needs to only contain those that want to do us harm – and should not ensnare innocent Americans,” said Ranking Member Thompson. “While DHS has good processes and mechanisms in place to help prevent terrorist watchlist problems, they are unfortunately not codified into law. My legislation would improve DHS’s management of its watchlist nomination process by ensuring quality assurance reviews as well as periodic and random audits of nominations. This is what’s needed to ensure we can secure the homeland while protecting the civil rights of Americans. I hope my colleagues join me in supporting this bill.”
The Terrorist Watchlist Data Accuracy and Transparency Act will require DHS to:
- Conduct quality assurance reviews of watchlist nominations to determine if all nominations are free from error before they are submitted to the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center.
- Yearly audit nominations of U.S. persons to the watchlist to ensure accuracy and that each nomination continues to meet watchlisting criteria – and also establish a random audit program to periodically review all watchlist nominations.
- Work with the FBI and NCTC to correct or retract DHS watchlist records.
- Report to Congress the number of referrals for watchlist corrections or retractions – and the resulting number of nominations recalled or reissued.
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