Stakeholders with homeland security roles said they generally do not use the QHSR report or questioned its usefulness. Image: iStock.com/bpperry
By: FEDweek StaffThe most recent Quadrennial Homeland Security Review from DHS—intended to be used as a “foundation for making annual resource decisions”—was five years late and did not fully meet 10 of the 21 requirements in law, the GAO has said.
“Homeland security threats continue to evolve and include challenges ranging from terrorist attacks to natural disasters. This situation underscores the need for DHS to periodically examine and strengthen the nation’s homeland security strategy,” a report said.
However, there was a nine-year gap between issuance of the 2014 and 2023 reports and the department had “drafted a new strategic plan during that time without affirming the homeland security priority missions through the review . . . Not issuing the report on time could lead to a strategic plan that does not take into account the most recent homeland security environment.”
Among the requirements for example is that the department consult with certain stakeholders, including other federal agencies and state agencies. However, the GAO found that such engagement was limited, and that DHS “had no documentation on the substance of information discussed or how it was incorporated into the QHSR report.”
The “stakeholders with homeland security roles whom we contacted said they generally do not use the QHSR report or questioned the report’s usefulness,” it said.
“DHS officials could not explain why DHS did not fully meet the statutory requirements because there is limited documentation of the steps taken for conducting the review,” the report said, adding that the department has not put in place recommendations the GAO made in 2018 to improve internal strategy and policy planning efforts such as the quadrennial review.
DHS agreed with the latest report’s recommendations to ensure that future reviews meet all requirements, including when and how to engage stakeholders.
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