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February 15, 2017

GAO High-Risk List: DHS Showing Improvement

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) high-risk list (GAO-17-317). Every two years, GAO releases a report to call attention to government agencies and program areas that are high-risk due to their vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or are most in need of transformation.

“I am pleased to see that GAO has found that significant progress has been made with regard to terrorism related information sharing.  During my tenure on the Committee on Homeland Security, strengthening terrorism related information sharing between Federal, State, local, and tribal partners has been a top focus of mine, and I am pleased to see this area removed from the high risk list.”

“I am also encouraged that GAO acknowledged the Department of Homeland Security has made progress in meeting additional criteria necessary to have its management functions removed from the high-risk list. This improvement is a reflection of the hard work and commitment provided by former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, who in is his exit memorandum emphasized the importance of Unity of Effort and an aggressive campaign to improve employee morale at the Department.”

“It is my hope that the Trump administration and Secretary Kelly continue moving the Department in a positive direction and address the remaining management improvement needs, such as better information technology modernization and human capital management. It is also my hope that the Department, as well as the Trump administration, understands the value of independent oversight provided by agencies such as GAO in the success of its mission.”

Advisory:

Tomorrow, February 16th, the Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency will hold a hearing on the high-risk list and other issues at 2pm. 

More information on the hearing can be found here.

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