Washington D.C. - A bipartisan group of Senators on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee reacted to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report out today, done at their request, revealing serious operational and management challenges facing the Federal Protective Service (FPS). The report revealed numerous challenges that could compromise federal building security, including inadequate staffing and broken security equipment, as well as heavy reliance on contract security guards who are not sworn law enforcement officers and do not have arrest powers.
Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (ID-CT), Chairman of the full Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said: "The GAO report confirms our fears that the Federal Protective Service faces a number of serious challenges that have a real effect on its ability to protect federal buildings and employees. Cuts in personnel as responsibilities increase, poor financial management, and difficulties with its contract guard program have plagued the FPS and contributed to declining morale, performance, and safety. These problems didn't spring up overnight and they can't be fixed overnight, but I am committed to working with DHS and the FPS to address these challenges."
Senator Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Ranking Member of the full Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said: "FPS is a key component of our nation's security and must be able to function effectively to carry out its important law enforcement mission. While I am pleased that efforts have been made to address financial concerns which are a root cause of the problems facing FPS, GAO has identified many other issues that must still be addressed. FPS no longer proactively patrols federal facilities to detect and prevent criminal incidents and terrorism-related activities. It has reduced hours of operation in many locations and has experienced difficulties maintaining security equipment such as cameras, x-ray machines, and magnetometers. As a result, other government agencies are not getting the security they pay FPS to provide. I will continue to work with FPS and my colleagues on the Committee to ensure FPS can protect our federal building infrastructure."
Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, said: "Unfortunately, in recent years it has become clear that federal buildings may be attractive targets for terrorists. Despite the catastrophic attack that led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this GAO report makes clear that FPS was weakened rather than strengthened by its transition to DHS and that federal buildings remain vulnerable to terrorism and other crime. GAO reports that at one high-risk federal building, less than ten percent of the security cameras worked properly. GAO investigators also learned of x-ray machines, magnetometers, FPS radios, and other equipment broken for months or years in federal buildings. I am also concerned that FPS restricted employee training, overtime, hiring, promotions, and bonuses to reduce its costs. I will work to see that Congress continues to focus attention and resources on this issue." FPS was transferred from the General Services Administration to DHS in 2003.
Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, said: "The GAO report that prompted this hearing paints a troubling picture of operational challenges, management problems and poor coordination inside and outside of FPS. Specifically, funding problems and FPS led to poorly timed cuts in funding for training and retention bonuses - at a time when FPS needed it most. Questions of equitability also exist in FPS' formula for charging tenant agencies a basic security fee, and FPS has little resources to collect information on its own effectiveness. I question why FPS hasn't adopted the risk based model DHS uses in allocating homeland security grants. This is a precursor for inefficiency and waste."
Tomorrow, Senators Akaka and Voinovich will lead a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia to review the GAO report. The hearing entitled "Management Challenges Facing the Federal Protective Service: What is at Risk?" will take place at 2:00 p.m. in SD-342.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report is entitled: The Federal Protective Service Faces Several Challenges that Hamper its Ability to Protect Federal Facilities (GAO 08-683). It was requested by Sens. Lieberman, Collins, Akaka, and Voinovich in February 2007.
FPS is responsible for protecting approximately 9,000 properties that are owned or leased by the federal government from terrorism and other criminal activity. Approximately 1,100 FPS employees and 15,000 contract security guards protect the more than one million federal workers who spend their days in these buildings, in addition to millions of Americans who visit for government services, as tourists, or for other reasons.
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