NCJ Number
192117
Date Published
2001
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This paper presents testimony by David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States before the House Committee on the Budget, House of Representatives on the challenges and strategies in addressing short-term and long-term national security needs.
Abstract
This testimony discusses Federal efforts to improve homeland security and the fiscal implications for the United States. The nature of the threats posed to the United States, key elements of a framework to address homeland security, and the potential short-and long term fiscal implications of these efforts are examined. According to a variety of U.S. intelligence assessments, the United States now confronts a range of increasingly diffuse threats that put increased destructive power into the hands of small states, groups, and individuals. These threats range from incidents of terrorism and attacks on critical infrastructure, to cyber attacks, the potential use of various weapons of mass destruction, and the spread of infectious diseases. The GAO has reported on many of these issues over the past several years, and the changing nature of security threats in the post-Cold War world remains a key issue. An effective framework to address these challenges will require not only leadership with a clear vision to develop and implement a homeland security strategy in coordination with all relevant partners, but also the ability to marshal and direct the necessary resources to get the job done. The recent establishment of the Office of Homeland Security is a good first step, but a series of questions must be addressed regarding how this office will be structured, what authority its Director will have, and how this effort can be institutionalized and sustained over time. The Director will need to define the scope and objectives of a homeland security strategy. This strategy should be comprehensive and encompass steps designed to reduce vulnerabilities, deter attacks, manage the effects of any successful attacks, and provide for appropriate response. The strategy will involve all levels of government, the private sector, individual citizens, and other nations. The strategy should also use the risk management approach. While homeland security is an urgent need, the challenges presented by terrorism illustrate the range of difficulties facing the U.S. government in other areas not as visible or urgent, but important. These include the lack of mission clarity; too much fragmentation and overlap; the need to improve the Federal government’s human capital strategy; difficulties in coordination and operation across levels of government and across sectors of the economy; and the need to better measure performance. U.S. history suggests that there have been sizable budget deficits when the security or the economy was a risk. At the present time, the U.S. is fortunate to face these risks at a time of near-term budgetary flexibility. It is important to remember, however, that long-term pressures on the budget have not lessened. In fact they have increased due to the slowing economy and the increased spending levels expected for fiscal year 2002. As a result, the ultimate task of addressing today’s urgent needs without unduly exacerbating the United States’ long-range fiscal challenges has become much more difficult.