Building Security: New Federal Standards Hold Promise, But Could Be Strengthened to Better Protect Leased Space
Highlights
The federal government's reliance on leased space underscores the need to physically secure this space and help safeguard employees, visitors, and government assets. In April 2010 the Interagency Security Committee (ISC), comprised of 47 federal agencies and departments and chaired by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), issued Physical Security Criteria for Federal Facilities (the 2010 standards) which supersede previous ISC standards. In response to Congress' direction to review ISC standards for leased space, this report (1) identifies challenges that exist in protecting leased space and (2) examines how the 2010 standards address these challenges. To conduct this work, GAO analyzed agency documents and interviewed federal officials from ISC, four federal departments selected as case studies based on their large square footage of leased space, and the Federal Protective Service (FPS). GAO also consulted prior work on federal real property and physical security, including key practices in facility protection.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Homeland Security | To enhance the value of ISC standards for addressing challenges with protecting leased space, the Secretary of Homeland Security should instruct the Executive Director of the ISC, in consultation, where appropriate, with ISC member agencies to establish an ISC working group or other mechanism to determine guidance for working with lessors, which may include best practices to secure common areas and public access. |
In 2010, we reported that Interagency Security Committee (ISC) issued Physical Security Criteria for Federal Facilities (the 2010 standards). We assessed the 2010 standards and found that they held promise for positioning the federal government to begin comprehensively assessing risks with its requirement for documenting building-specific security decision making. However, the standards' lack of discussion on working with lessors is notable, given the significant role these entities have in implementing countermeasures that could mitigate risks from public access, particularly in common areas, such as lobbies and loading docks. Guidance to tenant agencies, leasing officials, and security officials on how to work with lessors, such as best practices, would give helpful direction as these entities work together to secure common areas and protect leased space. We recommended that the Department of Homeland Security instruct ISC to establish a working group or other mechanism to determine guidance for working with lessors. In 2014, we confirmed that ISC had established this working group and it had drafted such guidance. As the government's central forum for exchanging information on facility protection, ISC has effectively used its position to lead the develop of guidance on facility protection.
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| Department of Homeland Security | To enhance the value of ISC standards for addressing challenges with protecting leased space, the Secretary of Homeland Security should instruct the Executive Director of the ISC, in consultation, where appropriate, with ISC member agencies to subsequently incorporate these findings into a future ISC standard or other product, as appropriate. |
In 2010, we reported that the Interagency Security Committee Physical Security Criteria for Federal Facilities ("the 2010 standards") held promise for positioning the federal government to begin comprehensively assessing risks in federal space. However, the 2010 standards' lack of discussion on working with lessors was notable, given the significant role these entities have in implementing countermeasures that could mitigate risks from public access, particularly in common areas, such as lobbies and loading docks. To enhance the value of the 2010 standards for addressing challenges with protecting leased space, we recommended that the Secretary of Homeland Security instruct the Executive Director of the Interagency Security Committee (ISC), in consultation, where appropriate, with ISC member agencies to determine guidance for working with lessors, which may include best practices to secure common areas and public access. In 2014, GAO confirmed that ISC developed guidance for working with lessors, which it had circulated for comment among ISC member agencies and expects to issue in the fall of 2014. This guidance to tenant agencies, leasing officials, and security officials on how to work with lessors will give helpful direction as these entities work together to secure common areas and protect leased space. Action taken by
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