Summary
A key challenge in securing our homeland is ensuring that critical information collected by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) is shared in a timely manner with federal, state, and local governments and the private sector. It is important that federal networks and associated systems, applications, and data facilitate this vital information sharing. GAO was asked to (1) identify DHS and DOJ networks and Internet-based system applications that support homeland security and (2) determine whether DHS efforts associated with its Homeland Security Information Network are being coordinated with key state and local information-sharing initiatives. GAO assessed the coordination between DHS and two key state and local initiatives of the Regional Information Sharing System program.
The Departments of Homeland Security and Justice have 17 major networks that support their homeland security missions, including sharing information with state and local governments. Examples include DHS's Homeland Secure Data Network and DOJ's Justice Consolidated Network. The departments also have four system applications that use the Internet. Among the four are DHS's Homeland Security Information Network--the department's primary information technology system for sharing terrorism and related information--and DOJ's Law Enforcement Online. While some networks and applications are used solely within their respective departments, others are used both within the department and by other federal, state, and local agencies and the private sector. For example, of the 17 networks, 9 are used only within their own department, and 8 are used within the department and by other federal, state, and local agencies. The reported cost to develop, operate, and maintain these networks and applications in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 was $893.1 million. DHS is statutorily responsible for coordinating the federal government's networks and related systems with state and local governments. Federal guidance directs DHS to foster such coordination and collaboration as a means to enhance information sharing and avoid duplicative efforts. Key practices to help implement the guidance include establishing joint strategies and compatible policies and procedures to operate across agency boundaries. However, DHS did not fully adhere to these practices in coordinating efforts on its Homeland Security Information Network with key state and local information-sharing initiatives. For example, it did not work with the two key state and local information-sharing initiatives (of the Regional Information Sharing System program) to fully develop joint strategies to meet mutual needs. It also did not develop compatible policies, procedures, and other means to operate across organizational boundaries. DHS's limited use of these practices is attributable in part to the department's expediting its schedule to deploy information-sharing capabilities after September 11, 2001, and in doing so not developing an inventory of key state and local information-sharing initiatives. DHS officials have efforts planned and under way to improve coordination and collaboration, including establishing an advisory committee to obtain state and local views on network operations. DHS also plans to coordinate its efforts with the Administration's Information Sharing Environment initiative that aims to improve information sharing among all levels of government and the private sector. However, these activities have either just begun or are being planned. Consequently, until DHS develops an inventory of key state and local initiatives and fully implements coordination and collaboration practices, it is at risk that effective information sharing is not occurring and that its Homeland Security Information Network may be duplicating state and local capabilities. This also raises the issue of whether similar coordination and duplication issues exist with the other homeland security networks, systems, and applications under DHS's purview.
Recommendations
Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change
from "In process" to "Implemented" or "Not implemented" based on our follow up work.
Director:
Team:
Phone:
David A. Powner
Government Accountability Office: Information Technology
No phone on record
Recommendations for Executive Action
Recommendation: The Secretary of Homeland Security should direct the Director, Office of Operations Coordination, to ensure that the Homeland Security Information Network efforts are effectively coordinated with key state and local government information-sharing initiatives. This should include (1) identifying existing and planned key state and local information-sharing initiatives and assessing whether there are opportunities for the program to improve information sharing and avoid duplication of effort; (2) where there are opportunities, adopting and institutionalizing key practices related to OMB's guidance on enhancing and sustaining agency coordination and collaboration, including developing documented policies and procedures to operate across organizational boundaries; and (3) ensuring that its coordination efforts are consistent with implementation of the Information Sharing Environment plan.
Agency Affected: Department of Homeland Security
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: The Secretary of Homeland Security should determine whether there are coordination and duplication issues with other homeland security networks and associated systems and applications. In each case where issues are identified, the Secretary should direct the appropriate department executive to ensure that the efforts are effectively coordinated consistent with our recommendation above.
Agency Affected: Department of Homeland Security
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
