General Services Administration

Many Building Security Upgrades Made But Problems Have Hindered Program Implementation Gao ID: T-GGD-98-141 June 4, 1998

In the wake of the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, an interagency working group under the direction of the Justice Department issued a report recommending minimum security standards for federal buildings. In July 1995, the General Services Administration (GSA) launched a multimillion-dollar program to strengthen security at the 8,300 buildings under its control. GSA used the report's criteria to assess risks and prioritize security upgrades in its buildings. Despite formidable challenges, GSA has made progress in implementing upgrades at federal buildings across the country, particularly in its higher risk buildings. GSA's data systems indicate that about 7,000 upgrades were completed, and GAO estimates that roughly $353 million was obligated from the Federal Buildings Fund for the upgrade program between October 1995 and March 1998. However, mistakes made in rushing to meet the timetables in the Justice Department report, reduced staffing due to downsizing, data unreliability, and uncertain funding sources have hindered GSA's upgrade program implementation. Because of data reliability problems, neither GSA nor GAO can pinpoint the program's exact cost or status. Moreover, GSA has not established program outcomes measures, and neither GSA nor GAO know the extent to which completed upgrades have resulted in greater security or reduced vulnerability in federal office buildings. As a result, GSA is not in a good position to manage its program to mitigate security threats.

GAO noted that: (1) GSA used the Department of Justice (DOJ) report's criteria to assess risks and prioritize security upgrades in its buildings; (2) despite the formidable challenges posed by this program, GSA has made progress implementing upgrades in federal buildings throughout the country, particularly in its higher risk buildings; (3) GSA's data systems indicate that about 7,000 upgrades were completed and it estimates that roughly $353 million were obligated from the Federal Buildings Fund for the upgrade program nationally between October 1, 1995, and March 31, 1998; (4) however, mistakes made by rushing to meet the timetables in the DOJ report because of GSA's sense of urgency to upgrade security in its buildings, reduced staffing due to downsizing, data reliability problems, and uncertain funding sources have hindered GSA's upgrade program implementation; (5) because of data reliability problems, neither GSA nor GAO can specify the exact status or cost of the building security upgrade program, and because GSA has not established program outcome measures, neither GSA nor GAO knows the extent to which completed upgrades have resulted in greater security or reduced vulnerability for federal office buildings; and (6) GSA is not in a good position to manage its program to mitigate security threats.

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