Department of Homeland Security's Staffing and Accounting Weaknesses May Put Recovery Act Funds At Risk

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has received approximately $2.8 billion in Recovery Act funding for programs, such as strengthening the nation's borders, providing new explosives detection equipment to airports, upgrading rail and transit security, and improving emergency preparedness and response capabilities. As part of its ongoing oversight, the agency's Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report highlighting past areas of concern and potential risks that may hamper management of the Recovery funds.

The OIG recommended that the agency:

• address the shortage of skilled personnel obtaining goods and services, and the shortage of personnel managing grant programs;
• institute a personnel hiring and development plan to ensure that Recovery-related contracts comply with federal regulations; and
• develop an action plan to reduce risks involved in spending and monitoring Recovery funds.

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