FederalDaily - November 4, 2005

Chertoff Announces Border Changes

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff recently announced an overall vision for the Secure Border Initiative (SBI). SBI is a multi-year plan to secure the country’s borders and reduce illegal migration. Chertoff’s plans include:

• more agents to patrol borders, secure ports of entry and enforce immigration laws;
• expanded detention and removal capabilities to eliminate “catch and release” once and for all;
• upgrading the technology used in controlling the border, including increased manned aerial assets and next-generation detection technology;
• increased investment in infrastructure improvements at the border—providing additional physical security to sharply reduce illegal border crossings; and
• greatly increased interior enforcement of immigration laws.

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0794.xml

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GAO Examines Hurricane Contracts

The devastation experienced by those throughout the Gulf Coast in Louisiana , Mississippi , Alabama , and Texas in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita has called into question the government’s ability to effectively respond to such disasters, a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report said. The government’s response to Katrina and Rita depended heavily on contractors to deliver ice, water and food supplies as well as patch rooftops and supply temporary housing to displaced residents and evacuees. Although the private sector is an important partner with the government in responding to and recovering from natural disasters, GAO found that at the same time, the acquisition functions at several agencies are on GAO’s high risk list. This indicates a vulnerability to fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement. GAO pledged to continue to review the facts and circumstances of contracts supporting hurricane recovery efforts. To view the report, go to www.gao.gov/new.items/d06235t.pdf.

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GAO Personnel System Changes

Comptroller General David Walker of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced a number of changes to his agency’s personnel system on Nov. 3. Walker indicated that GAO would shift towards a skills, knowledge and market-oriented pay system. He noted that employee input had been incorporated into the new system. A majority of the GAO work force is actually already participating in pay-banding. Walker said studies to collect accumulative data will replace the old—and “outdated”—GS methodology for GAO. Some workers will have increased income potential in their current positions, while others may not be able to reach as high of an earning potential as previously determined. Walker did emphasize that no one would suffer a pay cut.

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Displace New Orleans Office Returns Home

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced on Nov. 1 that it reopened its Gulf of Mexico Regional Office in New Orleans. “After two months of operating with a reduced staff in Houston, we are happy to have all our employees back at work,” stated MMS Director Johnnie Burton. “Despite the temporary loss of offices housing more than 600 employees, we moved aggressively to resume full operations.” A temporary office with a contingency of employees had been established in Houston. “The safety of MMS employees was a major concern for the agency,” said Gulf of Mexico Regional Director Chris Oynes. “Most of the Gulf Regional employees who work in New Orleans live in the areas that were hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina.”

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