America continues to face major security threats from external and even more from internal threats. The Department of Homeland Security was founded in 2002, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with the purpose of ensuring the safety of the nation against all threats foreign and domestic. However, the agency has been faced with issues that seem to derail them their mission. Accusations of financial, personnel, and program mismanagement have led to the loss of billions of dollars, inefficiency in key departments, in addition to mismanagement in various agencies under its umbrella, including FEMA, TSA, and CBP. This paper will analyze the Department of Homeland Security and its components, discuss some of the issues that plague the agency, and offer a solution to counter these issues.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Financial Mismanagement
- Acquisitions
- Grant Mismanagement
- Transportation Security Agency
- Customs and Border Protection
- Cyber Security Division of DHS
- Employee Misconduct
- Recommendations
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the operational issues faced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and analyzes the factors contributing to financial, personnel, and program mismanagement within the agency. The objective is to identify the root causes of these problems and propose solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of DHS operations.
- Financial mismanagement and wasteful spending of taxpayer funds
- Inefficient acquisitions processes leading to cost overruns and delays
- Lack of oversight and accountability in grant management programs
- Security vulnerabilities and personnel issues within the Transportation Security Agency (TSA)
- Challenges in securing U.S. borders and controlling the flow of illegal drugs and immigrants
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Abstract: This section provides a brief overview of the paper's focus on the operational challenges within the DHS, highlighting the issues of financial mismanagement, personnel problems, and ineffective program implementation.
- Introduction: The introduction establishes the context for the paper, discussing the formation of DHS in response to the 9/11 attacks and its critical role in national security. It highlights the agency's struggles with financial and program mismanagement.
- Financial Mismanagement: This chapter explores the significant increase in DHS funding since its inception and the criticisms surrounding the use of these funds. It focuses on the concerns raised by the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General, particularly in regards to inefficient acquisitions and grant mismanagement by FEMA.
- Acquisitions: This section examines the issues encountered by DHS in acquiring assets for its operations. It highlights the poor execution of acquisition policies, leading to cost overruns and delays, and analyzes the factors contributing to these problems, including inadequate personnel, mismatched budgeting, and last-minute program changes.
- Grant Mismanagement: This chapter focuses on the difficulties faced by DHS in administering grants and ensuring accountability. It specifically analyzes the challenges within FEMA, highlighting the lack of oversight and the vulnerabilities of the grant program to fraud, abuse, and wasteful spending.
- Transportation Security Agency: This section discusses the operational challenges faced by the Transportation Security Agency, including the high failure rates of screeners to detect weapons and the long security checkpoints caused by staff shortages and passenger influx. It also addresses the issues of low morale and high attrition rates among TSA screeners.
- Customs and Border Protection: This chapter explores the challenges faced by the Customs and Border Protection Agency in securing U.S. borders and controlling the flow of illegal drugs and immigrants. It highlights the concerns surrounding the effectiveness of border security programs and the potential for travelers to exploit loopholes and facilitate threats to national security.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary focus of this paper is on the Department of Homeland Security's operational issues, with particular emphasis on financial mismanagement, acquisitions processes, grant management, security vulnerabilities, and border security. Key themes include the importance of effective oversight and accountability, the challenges of managing complex and large-scale government agencies, and the need for improved resource allocation and program implementation to ensure national security.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dexter Roberts (Autor:in), 2018, Department of Homeland Security Operational Issues: Is it Management or Mismanagement?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/421071
