The Government Accountability Office has called for management
improvements in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s IT
infrastructure modernization program, known as Atlas.
It said the Department of Homeland Security’s fiscal 2004 expenditure
plan and statements from program officials have satisfied congressional
requirements, but that little of this “satisfaction” is based
completed actions.
“Much remains to be accomplished for Atlas planning and management
efforts to be considered effective,” according to the report,
heightening the risk of failing to deliver the promised IT
infrastructure on time and within budget.
Further, the economic justification for Atlas fails to reflect
recent and planned changes in program scope and purpose, including
plans to expand the program beyond IT upgrades, according to
GAO-05-805.
It said program management controls and capabilities also have yet
to be established, and that while ICE has begun work on an Atlas
program office, the office is understaffed and not yet operational.
