DHS intends to change the role of the Federal Protective Service by reassigning its 950 officers to other law enforcement entities and handing over the physical security of federal property almost entirely to contractors, of whom there are currently 15,000 guarding federal property.
The department wants the FPS to focus on maintaining security policy and standards, conducting building security assessments and monitoring agency compliance with security standards, but the fiscal 2008 DHS spending bill currently in conference could put a damper on that plan.
A DHS inspector general audit of FPS security guard contracts for the Washington D.C. area concluded last year that FPS has become increasingly reliant on its contract guard force, is not adequately monitoring security guard contracts, and that contract violations in the NCR exist.
While DHS deputy secretary Michael Jackson told the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in April that the plan would result in a more streamlined, effective and well-trained workforce, the idea of cutting FPS positions has so far proved unpopular with lawmakers.
The House version would require the FPS director to work more closely with state and local law enforcement who could be affected by the downsizing, and report on the number and types of cases handled by FPS in the previous two fiscal years.
However, the Senate version would set a minimum limit of 1,200 FPS law enforcement officers protecting federal buildings, and calls on the DHS secretary and OMB director to adjust the security fees agencies pay to fund those personnel levels.
The White House earlier threatened to veto the $40.6 billion bill, which is above the President’s request.
