FederalDaily.com > Congressmen Question DHS on Low Morale

FederalDaily - June 6, 2006

Congressmen Question DHS on Low Morale

Reps. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Miss., and Kendrick B. Meeks, D-Fla., sent a letter last week to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff concerning morale problems at the agency. K. Gregg Prillaman, DHS’ chief human capital officer, served only eight months before announcing his resignation. “The resignation of an individual with 30 years of experience in the personnel field after this extremely short tenure at the department seems to underscore the many problems facing the department in hiring and retaining appropriate and qualified personnel,” the letter to Chertoff stated. “If the head of the department’s personnel operations found resignation to be his best option, then what message does this send to the rank and file employees who are uncertain about the department’s direction?” DHS is currently working towards implementing a new personnel system, called MaxHR. Employee reception of the new system has been mixed, with unions fighting against MaxHR. Thompson and Meeks said in their letter that “consistently low morale” is a problem that “must be fixed” at DHS. They concluded their letter stating, “…it appears that the department’s human capital system is in critical condition, possessing neither steady, seasoned leadership nor clearly defined goals.” To see the full letter, go to www.cbpunion.org/Documents/letter.pdf.

It’s Not Just Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) said it has learned through its ongoing analysis of the data stolen on up to 26.5 million individuals that private information (the names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth) on certain National Guard and Reserve personnel who are on at least their second federalized active duty call-up could potentially be included. The number of those potentially affected is believed to be between 10,000 and 20,000. Additionally, private information on some active duty Navy personnel may be involved, the VA said. This could potentially include members of the Navy who remain on active duty and completed their first enlistment term prior to 1991. The VA has determined this group likely consists of between 25,000 and 30,000 individuals. Those who believe they may be affected can go to www.firstgov.gov or call (800) FED INFO.

FTC Gives Veterans Advice

In related news, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is cautioning veterans to be extra careful of scams following the recent data breach at the VA. The FTC said, in the past, fraudsters have used events like this to try to scam people into divulging their personal information by e-mail and over the phone. The FTC’s tips for veterans and their families include the following:

Do not give out your personal information over the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact and know—or can verify—who you are dealing with.

Never click on links sent in unsolicited e-mails. Instead, type in a Web address you know to be accurate.

The VA, other government agencies and legitimate businesses do not contact people by e-mail or telephone either to ask them for—or to confirm—Social Security numbers or other personal information.

Cost Estimate for Making FEMA Independent

House Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., said he received the revised cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for the Restoring Emergency Services to Protect Our Nation from Disasters (RESPOND) Act. The RESPOND Act, H.R. 5316, rebuilds and reinforces the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as restores it as an independent agency. “CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5316 would cost about $1.1 billion over the 2007 – 2011 period,” said CBO’s report. “The RESPOND Act strengthens FEMA, re-establishes a direct line of communication to the White House and takes the responsibility for managing disasters out of a massive 190,000 person bureaucracy and puts it into a lean and nimble agency at the right hand of the president,” said Shuster. He added, “CBO estimates the cost of restoring FEMA’s independence at $2 million a year, a small price to create an emergency management system that we know can work.”