The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has published its annual report into the management and performance challenges facing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Countering Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats
Domestic and international actors abroad pose dangers to the U.S. The threats are dynamic and becoming more complex. Threats are more interconnected, technologically advanced, targeted, and close to home.
Following the breach of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021, OIG found DHS identified specific threat information prior to January 6 but did not issue any intelligence products about these threats until two days later. DHS was unable to provide its many state, local, and Federal partners with timely, actionable, and predictive intelligence. Additionally, DHS did not adequately follow its internal processes and comply with applicable Intelligence Community policy standards and requirements when editing and disseminating an Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) intelligence product regarding Russian interference in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, which put I&A at risk of creating a perception of politicization. OIG also determined DHS has not completed, as planned, 70 percent of the goals under its strategic framework for countering domestic terrorism, and said it can improve how it identifies domestic terrorism threats, tracks trends for future risk-based planning, and informs partners and the public about domestic terrorism.
OIG stated that it continues to identify challenges DHS faces countering improvised explosive devices. The watchdog said in its annual review that DHS needs to improve its management of component activities to comply with implementation of Presidential Policy Directive 17: Countering Improvised Explosive Devices within DHS. OIG continues to review DHS’ countering terrorism efforts including DHS’ response to the events of January 6, 2021, and DHS’ procedures and technology systems to safeguard and share terrorist screening data.
OIG also continues to identify law enforcement missions where DHS would benefit from better collaboration, sharing and leveraging processes, data collection, and best practices across components. OIG has identified inadequate oversight of DHS’ law enforcement components to ensure proper DNA collection and preparation for cross-component protection of Federal facilities. The watchdog found that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations investigated less than 1 percent of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Intellectual Property Rights seizures annually from fiscal years 2017 to 2020 because CBP did not prioritize reporting investigative referrals to ICE, nor did it establish guidance or a system to do so. Further, OIG found opportunities for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Office for Bombing Prevention to improve its oversight of components’ input for countering improvised explosive devices and to better lead DHS and nationwide capability efforts to address these threats. Finally, OIG said DHS component collaboration on law enforcement virtual training is limited.
Progress has been made however. DHS has developed strategies and taken other steps to help the U.S. counter terrorism, and has made progress countering domestic terrorism. For example, DHS implemented redundant capabilities to disseminate intelligence products addressing departmental threats. Additionally, DHS will initiate a needs assessment to identify staffing and budget requirements to counter domestic terrorism. The Department’s Counterterrorism Coordinator will work with other program offices to evaluate the oversight and coordination of efforts to counter domestic terrorism following the conclusion of the needs assessment.
DHS also continues its efforts to develop and update internal controls, directives, policies, procedures, and training plans, as well…
Read More: OIG Issues DHS’ Annual Report Card