House panel revisits security problems with Federal Protective Service

Tomorrow morning, the House Homeland Security Committee will hold its second hearing this year on the Federal Protective Service.

The FPS, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, has been under fire for major lapses in security at government complexes.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the panel, told Federal News Radio that this hearing picks up where the committee left off this past July, when lawmakers learned of numerous difficulties with the agency tasked with protecting federal government buildings and complexes.

"We found instances of security personnel not being trained, sleeping on the job," he said in a telephone interview. "The Government Accountability Office conducted security tests where improvised explosive devices were easily moved in and out of offices without identification."

Even more disturbing, says Chairman Thompson, is the over-reliance on contract security personnel. "None of those individuals has arrest powers, or law enforcement powers. Most of us are concerned that those of us who go into federal buildings meet these individuals, and the assumption is that these people are adequately trained, and have adequate law enforcement powers, but this is not the case,"

Thompson says Wednesday's hearing will receive new reports on inadequate security at federal buildings, and will also examine whether moving the FPS into the Homeland Security Department was a good move. Prior to 2002, the FPS was a unit of the General Services Administration.

Witnesses at the hearing will include representatives of federal labor unions, and experts who will examine whether the FPS is properly staffed and funded. The GAO is also expected to provide an update on its original report on the effectiveness of the Federal Protective Service where government staff supervise contract security employees.

In September, Federal News Radio spoke to FPS Director Gary Schenkel about the changes the agency has implemented so far.

On the Web:

House Homeland Security Committee - Hearing agenda & witnesses: Federal Protective Service (11/18)

Federal News Radio - Federal Protective Service spends summer enhancing security

Federal News Radio - Report: Probe found weaknesses in federal security

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