Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Homeland Security

What GAO Found

In April 2018, GAO identified 19 priority recommendations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Since then, DHS has implemented 4 of those recommendations by, among other things, taking actions to improve the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ ability to detect fraud patterns across asylum applications and the U.S. Border Patrol’s efforts to address tactical infrastructure requirements. The Transportation Security Administration has also limited funding for its Behavior Detection Program, consistent with our recommendation that it does so until it provides valid evidence demonstrating that behavioral indicators can be used to identify passengers who may pose a threat to aviation security. DHS also designated its headquarters consolidation program as a major acquisition, which resulted in greater departmental oversight.

In April 2019, GAO identified 11 additional priority recommendations for DHS, bringing the total number to 26. These recommendations involve the following areas:

• improving FEMA’s management of the National Flood Insurance Program.  

• analyzing the costs associated with future southwest border barrier segments. 

• pursuing the acquisition of a new Coast Guard electronic health records system.

• establishing a plan for closing Coast Guard boat stations determined to be duplicative. 

• facilitating adoption of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity.

• directing the Assistant Secretary for DHS’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office to develop a strategy and implementation plan for countering chemical weapons of mass destruction.

• improving the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s monitoring of radiological shipments.