GAO Report Details Homeland Security Efforts

Since last year’s terrorist attacks, federal agencies have taken big steps to prevent similar assaults and to respond if they should occur. But more needs to be done, particularly to help state and local authorities, a report by congressional auditors said.

The report released Tuesday by the General Accounting Office recommended that the new Department of Homeland Security assess the nation’s greatest risks and vulnerabilities to determine what its priorities should be.

The GAO examination of what federal agencies have done to strengthen homeland security was requested by Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. The review included agencies that will be part of the new homeland security agency, such as the Coast Guard, and others that will have important roles from outside the department, such as the FBI.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said the administration is “pleased with the progress that has been made in protecting the homeland.”

“We know there is much more work to be done, and we are hopeful that Congress will act quickly on the president’s request to double funding for homeland security.”

The GAO cited signs that agencies have been boosting homeland security efforts. The Energy Department has strengthened security at nuclear weapon complexes; the Defense Department created a Northern Command to defend U.S. territory; the FBI added more than 500 agents to counter terrorism.

Federal agencies have placed a greater emphasis on sharing information, the GAO said. A recent congressional investigation into the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks found that intelligence agencies were not providing information about terrorism suspects to outside agencies such as the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Some agencies have not been included in homeland defense plans that should have been, the report said.

For example, the General Services Administration, which oversees federal office buildings, was not contacted by the Homeland Security Office about protecting facilities along the border, the report said.

The new department will begin operations next year. It will draw from 22 current agencies and have 170,000 employees.