McCaul on GAO High-Risk List: Mismanagement Puts Americans at Risk

Statement

Today, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) 2015 High-Risk List:

Chairman McCaul: "GAO's release of its High-Risk List is a reminder of how critical effective management is to protecting the homeland. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made progress since GAO first designated it high-risk in 2003, department leadership must continue to work with Congress and GAO to mitigate risks and strengthen its operational efforts. We cannot afford mismanagement when it comes to keeping the American people safe. Without improved management, we are at risk of reverting back to a pre-9/11 mentality of stovepipes and missed opportunities instead of focusing on the true threats facing the homeland. The committee will continue to hold the department accountable to improve its efficiency and effectiveness."

At the start of each new Congress, GAO releases it's High-Risk List to call attention to agencies and program areas that are at high-risk due to their vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or are most in need of transformation. GAO identified DHS in several areas, such as the department's management functions, terrorism-related information sharing, and cybersecurity.

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