FederalDaily.com > IG Report Says FBI Needs to Control Losses of Weapons, Computers

FederalDaily - February 14, 2007

IG Report Says FBI Needs to Control Losses of Weapons, Computers

In the past four years, the FBI has lost or had stolen more than 300 weapons and computers—at least 10 of which contained sensitive or classified information—said a new report from Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Glenn Fine’s office. The report bluntly pointed out the federal agency, which is responsible for more than 52,000 weapons and 26,000 laptops, needs to do a better job. “We recognize that in an organization the size of the FBI, some weapons and laptops will inevitably be stolen or go missing. However, it is important that the FBI take appropriate steps to minimize these losses,” said the report, released Feb. 12. The 160 missing weapons and 160 laptops disappeared during the 44 months that ended on Sept. 30, 2005. At least 10 laptops contained sensitive or classified information, but the FBI could not determine whether an additional 50 missing laptops contained sensitive or classified information, the report said. In an earlier 2002 survey, Fine’s office reported 354 FBI weapons and 317 laptops lost or stolen over the previous 28 months. To see more go to: www.usdoj.gov/oig/reports/FBI/a0718/final.pdf

GAO: DoD Should Improve TRICARE Education for Reservists

DoD needs to improve the way it informs active-duty reservists and their dependents of their TRICARE eligibility, especially prior to when they are first notified of mobilization, says a Feb. 12 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. After expanding TRICARE eligibility in Fiscal Year 2004, Congress told GAO to examine the health insurance coverage of reservists and their dependents. GAO’s report looked closely at DoD’s efforts to educate reservists and their dependents about TRICARE. Most reservists (80 percent) have civilian health care prior to being mobilized and about half kept their coverage after being activated, even though they were eligible to enroll in TRICARE, the report said. GAO suggests DoD conduct TRICARE eligibility briefings well in advance of mobilization. “Despite DoD’s use of a variety of tools to educate reservists about TRICARE,” the report said, “officials continue to suggest that TRICARE education could be improved by providing TRICARE briefings at times other than when reservists are being mobilized.” To see more, go to: www.gao.gov/new.items/d07195.pdf

DHS Report Promoting a ‘Culture of Excellence,’ Doesn’t, NTEU Says

A new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advisory committee report suggesting ways to build a “culture of excellence” within the agency—which includes the suggestion to hire more outside contractors—falls short, said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). The report of the Homeland Security Culture Task Force, a segment of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, was delivered to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff in late January. Kelley said the report largely fails because the input of front-line employees and their representatives was never sought. Among the report’s dubious recommendations, Kelley said, was one calling for the hiring of additional outside contractors and another which suggested calling employees by the term “employees,” or “members,” rather than human capital. “This is exactly the sort of empty gesture that disappoints and angers employees and does nothing to eliminate real workplace issues and give voice to their concerns,” Kelley said. To see more, go to: www.nteu.org

More Personal Data Missing at VA

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Monday released details about information that may have been stored on a recently missing government portable hard drive used by an employee at a VA facility in Birmingham, Ala. The device was reported missing on Jan. 22. An investigation begun the following day by VA and the VA Office of Inspector General has since found that data files the employee was working with may have included “sensitive VA-related information on approximately 535,000 individuals.” The investigation has also determined that data stored on the device could have included details on about 1.3 million living and deceased non-VA physicians. That data is used to analyze and compare health care information. VA said most of the physician information is publicly available, but that some files could contain sensitive information. Next week the agency will begin notifying individuals whose sensitive information was on the device. VA also plans to make a year of free credit monitoring available to those whose information has been compromised. VA is operating a call center for information about the incident. For more, go to: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1294.