DHS's inspector general to take a close look at FEMA
IG predicts that the number of FEMA investigations outnumber those planned for any of the ten other DHS divisions; for 2008, the IG plans to produce 173 management reports — 53 on FEMA and 31 on the department’s management division
DHS’s internal watchdog plans to focus nearly half its time investigating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the department’s overall management practices in the coming year. AP reports that in a forecast by the DHS inspector general, the number of FEMA investigations outnumber those planned for any of the ten other divisions listed. Each year the department’s inspector general lists the reports it expects to produce. For 2008, the IG plans to produce 173 management reports — 53 on FEMA and 31 on the department’s management division. FEMA has been under the spotlight since its inadequate performance during and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and thirteen of the investigations over the next year involve ongoing Gulf Coast recovery projects. “FEMA has dramatically strengthened its capabilities and planning over the past two years,” DHS spokesman Russ Knocke said. “We’re the first to recognize that while we do not always agree with (the inspector general’s) assessments, they ultimately help to make the department stronger.”
Among the investigations planned are efforts to:
* Determine how efficient FEMA’s plans are for housing disaster victims. FEMA housed some Hurricane Katrina victims in trailers, which were later found to be tainted with the potentially toxic chemical formaldehyde
* Evaluate whether the department should use lie-detector tests when screening potential new hires during background checks
* Assess how effective the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is in ensuring screener uniforms and badges are not stolen. Earlier this year it was reported that thousands of TSA uniforms and badges were missing from airports across the country. The concern is that a terrorist could impersonate a TSA employee and bypass airport security
* Determine how well the department handles employee misconduct. This fall FEMA held a fake news conference, and an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement employee dressed for a Halloween party as an escaped prisoner with dreadlocks and darkened skin. Both drew negative public attention and criticism from the Bush administration
The inspector general currently has no plans to produce any reports on the Secret Service, which is part of DHS.
