Lack of Funding Leads to Federal Building Security Failures

National Defense, Sep 2009 by Breitbach, Katie, Gellerson, Tessa

In a covert intrusion test, General Accountability Office investigators successfully penetrated 10 government facilities revealing widespread disorganization, and fundamental security failures within the Federal Protective Service (FPS).

The service, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, is responsible for the security of 9,000 government facilities. FPS employs approximately 15,000 security personnel who monitor all entry points and operate x-ray and surveillance equipment.

The GAO investigators were able to bring bomb components into all 10 facilities undetected, construct the improvised explosive devices in restrooms, and then carry them around the buildings in briefcases. The buildings were all ranked level 4 facilities on a scale from 1 to 5, with level 5 facilities being the most secure. Level 4 facilities security systems are second only to the White House, CIA headquarters and the Capitol.

"EPS is essentially an agency in crisis ... A lack of resources has hampered them in not only having enough staff but in having enough ability to improve the technology component of risk mitigation as well,''' the GAO's Mark Goldstein told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Of the guard files reviewed, 63 percent had expired or were missing firearm or CPR/First Ad certificates, which are required for active duty. Guards also did not receive fundamental equipment or scenario training. In one region where 1,500 guards work, none had received x-ray or magnetometer training since 2004, according to the report.

Gary Schenkel, director of FPS, cited "budget constraints" for the security failures, adding that "many programmatic elements such as training and equipment purchases had to be rescheduled."

Among the steps being taken to revamp the service, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano has approved its transfer from ICE to the department's national protection and programs directorate in order to increase visibility and transparency. Schenkel has also established a team "to aggressively attack the challenge of overseeing the contract guard program." The team will attempt to pinpoint guards' training and knowledge gaps, increase internal monitoring of guard performance, establish training schedules and facilitate discussion with the DHS science and technology directorate in hopes of receiving new technologies.