GAO Accountability Integrity Reliability Highlights Why GAO Did This Study Since the terrorist attacks of last September 11, the President and the Congress have taken important, aggressive action to protect the nation. Last month, the President proposed elevating homeland security to department status and, at the same time, merging into it several federal organizations. It would comprise four divisions (see graphic). The six organizations to be Simulation and Analysis Center (Defense, Energy), and the At the Subcommittee's request, GAO discussed the functions to be transferred to this new division, along with the potential benefits to be achieved, and the challenges that it will likely face. As proposed, the functions of the Information Analysis and The consolidation of these six organizations into a single division, if However, prior GAO work has identified and made recommendations concerning several critical infrastructure protection challenges that need to be addressed, which would face the new department. Specifically, they This is a test for developing highlights for a GAO report. The full testimony, including GAO's objectives, scope, methodology, and analysis, is available without charge at www.gao gov/cgi-bin/getpt GAO-02-918T For additional information about this testimony, contact Robert F. Dacey (202-5123317). To provide comments on this test highlights, contact Keith Fultz (202-512-3200) or E-mail Highlights Test@gao.gov. Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: I am pleased to be here today to discuss the proposed reorganization of government agencies and the reorientation of their missions to improve our nation's ability to better protect our homeland. This historical transition is clearly one of the most important issues of our time and is already being compared to other large-scale government reorganizations, including the creation of the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Council as part of the National Security Act of 1947. In the months since the events of September 11, the President and the Congress have responded with important and aggressive actions to protect the nation-creating the Office of Homeland Security and the Critical Infrastructure Protection Board, passing new laws such as the USA Patriot Act and an emergency supplemental spending bill, establishing a new agency to improve transportation security, and working in collaboration with federal, state, and local governments and private sector entities to prevent future terrorist acts. More recently, the Congress and the President have sought to remedy long-standing issues and concerns in the government's homeland security functions by proposing greater consolidation and coordination of various agencies and activities. Recent proposals include restructuring the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and splitting the enforcement and service sections of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Additionally, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman and Representative William M. “Mac" Thornberry have authored legislation designed to consolidate many homeland security functions. On June 18, the President transmitted draft legislation to the Congress for the creation of a new Department of Homeland Security whose mission would be preventing terrorist attacks within the United States, reducing America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimizing the damage and recovering from attacks that do occur. The Comptroller General recently testified on issues that Congress should review in its deliberations on creating the new cabinet department.' Specifically, the Comptroller General discussed (1) the need for reorganization and the principles and criteria to help evaluate what agencies and missions should be included or excluded from the new department, and (2) issues related to transition, cost, and implementation challenges. |