Congressman Rutherford Introduces Bill to Stop Wasteful Spending at Homeland Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Rutherford introduced H.R. 1294, the Reducing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acquisition Cost Growth Act. This bill would hold DHS agencies more accountable in administering their major acquisition programs and would give Congress greater oversight of troubled programs to prevent wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars by agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Congressman Rutherford said, "The Department of Homeland Security's acquisition programs represent hundreds of billions of dollars in spending, but they repeatedly face cost overruns and schedule delays. When DHS fails to properly manage these programs efficiently, taxpayer dollars are wasted instead of going toward providing the necessary tools for FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Customs and Border Protection to do their jobs – keeping Americans safe. My bill would prevent waste of taxpayer dollars by ensuring that Congress can provide greater oversight of major acquisition programs and can implement solutions to quickly address any setbacks or cost growth. I thank Chairman McCaul for co-sponsoring this bill and helping DHS take the right steps to change the culture of wasteful spending."

Chairman McCaul said, "I commend Congressman Rutherford's work in introducing legislation to increase congressional oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's major acquisition programs that fail to meet cost, schedule, or performance requirements. Improving the accountability of these programs will save taxpayer dollars and ensure that frontline operators get the tools they need to better protect our homeland."

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the DHS Office of the Inspector General have reported on the longstanding challenge DHS faces in managing major acquisition programs, which cost DHS over $7 billion. In 2015, the GAO found that 20 out of 22 major acquisition programs experienced cost growth, schedule slips, or both. Since 2005, DHS's management of acquisitions has been on the GAO's "High-Risk List," showing these programs are highly susceptible to waste and mismanagement.

To view the April 2015 GAO report, click HERE.