Senators Worried About DHS Reliance On Contractors

The land Security Department could ‘be in danger of losing the ability to think and act on its own for the American people.’Senators Worried About DHS Reliance On ContractorsBy Cliff Montgomery – Nov. 2nd, 2007The Department of land Security (DHS) must ensure that contractors are never hired to perform the inherent managerial functions of the U.S. government, or allowed to directly influence government decisions, declares the Government Accountability Office (GAO).In a review released Oct. 17th, the GAO stated that while the DHS must almost certainly employ contractors to provide some professional and managerial support, it is essential for land Security to improve the risk management that naturally accompanies such assistance. The U.S. government, the GAO concluded, must maintain control over its own decisions.The Senate land Security and Governmental Affairs Committee requested copies of the review, and held an Oct.17th hearing to examine whether DHS has become too dependent on its contractors.DHS has extensively employed contractors to begin many new programs or offices, and to reorganize existing ones. In the few years of its existence, DHS has lavished billions of dollars on the private sector to produce such services. In fiscal 2005 alone, the agency handed over $1.2 billion to corporations for professional and managerial support. In fiscal 2006, the spending jumped to $5 billion.”There is a danger that the department may become so dependent on contractors that it simply has no in-house ability to evaluate the solutions its contractors propose or to develop options on its own accord,” said the committee chairman, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT).DHS could “be in danger of losing the ability to think and act on its own for the American people,” he added.But Steve Schooner, who works as co-director of the Government Procurement Law Program at the George Washington University Law School, told committee members that the department’s need to contract numerous services probably would continue for a while.”It’s a reflection of the fact that we’ve hollowed out the government workforce, especially the most skilled and talented individuals,” stated Schooner.Some Senators voiced a concern that the DHS may in fact be using such excuses to engage in reckless contracting practices years after the department began.”It’s not the beginning anymore,” stated Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO).”The practice [of contracting services] is growing, especially in the area of overseeing the overseers…Contractors are overseeing companies they work for; it’s incestuous,” she added.DHS Chief Procurement Officer Elaine Duke claimed to share the panel’s worries over the  increased reliance on private contractors to perform public services, and will work to manage the clear risks of such a questionable state of affairs.”At DHS and across the government, there is a need to be increasingly sensitive to organizational conflict of interest issues, contractor ethics, and avoiding crossing into the employer/employee relationship when our federal employees interface with contractor employees,” said Duke.She of course generally agreed with the recommendations of the GAO, and of course stated that DHS currently is working to implement them. Duke added that she has given a particular focus  on better shaping agency competency in its acquisitions, as well as the requirements for its service contracts.This is what now happens in the Beltway: Some lawmaker voices a legitimate concern about some horrible trend of the Bush Administration; an administration official blindly agrees with every concern, then states they will do ‘everything possible’ to keep the problem from getting worse, thus simply telling lawmakers what they want to hear; and finally the Bush boys go off to do whatever they wish, and damn the consequences.We of course can’t say whether this progression of affairs will happen again–but we at won’t hold our breath waiting for any change.Like what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!