CQ article on transition hearing

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Here's the hearing I mentioned on this morning's call. CQ HOMELAND SECURITY Sept. 18, 2008 - 8:34 p.m. Candidates and DHS Not in Contact About Transition By Joanna Anderson, CQ Staff The Department of Homeland Security and the presidential campaigns have not been in contact about the handover of power coming in four months, the first-ever transition to a new administration for DHS. Undersecretary of Homeland Security for Management Elaine C. Duke told the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia that her team is working to compile briefing books for the presidential nominees but had not contacted - or been approached - by either campaign. Another witness at the hearing, Frank Chellino of the National Academy of Public Administration, said communication appeared to be stymied by the issue of who should contact whom first. The subcommittee's ranking Republican, George V. Voinovich of Ohio, suggested he and Chairman Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii, issue a letter to the campaigns to make them aware of transition preparations at the department. Patricia McGinnis, president and CEO of the Council for Excellence in Government, praised that idea and suggested that the candidates' reticence might be a result of not wanting to appear to be presuming victory in November. Nevertheless, lawmakers said, the three sides need to get together. Akaka warned history "suggests that terrorists may target the times shortly before and after governmental transitions" to launch attacks. Akaka cited the February 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole, as well as more recent attacks in Madrid, London and Glasgow. Terrorism and national security specialist John Rollins of the Congressional Research Service told the panel of speculation that Wednesday's attack on the U.S. embassy in Yemen may have been an attempt to seize the embassy in order to create a protracted security situation in advance of the election. Rollins said the department's internal preparations for the transition were progressing well, but efforts to coordinate with outside players could be improved. Akaka and Voinovich also said departmental vacancies could hurt transition planning. "Substantial gaps in DHS leadership will make it difficult for DHS to ensure leadership through the transition," said Akaka, citing a June 2008 report by the National Academy of Public Administration that found vacancies for nearly one in five executive positions at the department and one in four at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "High vacancy rates will compound the burden placed on top career officials when appointees leave," Akaka said. Duke said the department is working to fill those vacancies and said the vacancy rate has decreased from 20 percent at the time of the report to 13 percent now, adding she expects it to be below 10 percent within a month. Duke said FEMA's rate was down to 15 percent. Looking ahead to the next team to occupy offices at DHS, Akaka said the "new administration's national and homeland security appointees must be nominated and confirmed more quickly than has happened in the past," noting this was a recommendation of the 9/11 Commission. McGinnis suggested the Senate leadership commit to an expedited confirmation process for appointees and a standardized or streamlined questioning system from committees. Akaka also noted that presidential candidates are now able to submit requests for security clearances for their prospective transition team before the election and the president-elect will be able to submit requests for other nominees immediately after the election. Joanna Anderson can be reached a [email protected].