We and OPM have developed guidance for managing human capital  and developing strategic workforce planning strategies. Our and OPM’s workforce planning guidance recommends, among other  things, that agencies (1) assess their workforce needs, such as their  foreign language needs; (2) assess current competency skills, such as  foreign language capabilities; and (3) compare workforce needs against  available skills to identify any shortfalls, such as those related to foreign  language capabilities. DHS Has Taken Limited Actions to Assess Foreign Language Needs and Capabilities and Identify Potential Shortfalls

DHS has taken limited actions to assess its foreign language needs and  capabilities and to identify potential shortfalls. DHS efforts could be  strengthened if it conducts a comprehensive assessment of its foreign  language needs and capabilities and uses the results of this assessment to  identify any potential shortfalls. Table 2 shows the various assessments that were conducted at the  component level and in certain offices. CBP has conducted two assessments since 2004 that have primarily  focused on Spanish language needs. By  conducting a comprehensive assessment, DHS would be in a better  position to address its foreign language needs. Although DHS and its components maintain these lists that identify some  of their staff with foreign language capabilities, these lists generally  capture capabilities for personnel in certain components or offices,  primarily those that include a foreign language award program for  qualified employees. Coast Guard. Although DHS has some knowledge of its existing capabilities in certain  components and offices, conducting an assessment of foreign language  capabilities consistent with strategic workforce planning—that is,  collecting data in a systematic manner that includes all of DHS’s existing  foreign language capabilities—would better position DHS to manage its  resources. DHS Has Developed a Variety of Foreign Language Programs, but the Extent to Which They Address Foreign Language Shortfalls Is Not Known

DHS has established a variety of foreign language programs; however,  officials stated that they have not addressed the extent to which these  programs address existing shortfalls. Although foreign language programs and activities at select components  contribute to the development of DHS’s foreign language capabilities,  DHS’s ability to use them to address potential foreign language shortfalls  varies. For example, the foreign language training programs generally do  not include languages other than Spanish, nor do they include various  Spanish dialects. Given this decentralization,  conducting an assessment of the extent to which its program and activities  address shortfalls could strengthen DHS’s ability to manage its foreign  language programs and activities and to adjust them, if necessary, to  address shortfalls. While DHS has taken limited actions to assess its foreign language needs  and capabilities, it has not conducted a comprehensive assessment of the  department’s and its components’ foreign language needs and capabilities  nor has it fully identified potential shortfalls. Further, although the Coast  Guard, CBP, and ICE have a variety of foreign language programs and  activities in place, they have not assessed the extent to which the  programs and activities they have established address foreign language  shortfalls. Comprehensively assessing its foreign language needs and capabilities and  identifying any potential shortfalls and the extent to which its programs  and activities are addressing these shortfalls would better position DHS to  ensure that foreign language capabilities are available when needed. Recommendations for Executive Action

To help ensure that DHS can identify its foreign language capabilities  needed and pursue strategies that will help its workforce effectively  communicate to achieve agency goals, we recommend that the Secretary  of Homeland Security (1) comprehensively assess DHS’s foreign language  needs and capabilities and identify potential shortfalls, (2) assess the  extent to which existing foreign language programs and activities address  foreign language shortfalls, and (3) ensure that the results of these foreign  language assessments are incorporated into the department’s future  strategic and workforce planning documents. We selected the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border  Protection (CBP), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)  because they constitute a broad representation of program areas whose  missions include law enforcement and intelligence responsibilities. Although the results are not  projectable, they provided us with valuable insights.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a variety of responsibilities that utilize foreign language capabilities, including investigating transnational criminal activity and staffing ports of entry into the United States. GAO was asked to study foreign language capabilities at DHS. GAO's analysis focused on actions taken by DHS in three of its largest components--the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Specifically, this report addresses the extent to which DHS has (1) assessed its foreign language needs and existing capabilities and identified any potential shortfalls and (2) developed foreign language programs and activities to address potential foreign language shortfalls. GAO analyzed DHS documentation on foreign language capabilities, interviewed DHS officials, and assessed workforce planning in three components that were selected to ensure broad representation of law enforcement and intelligence operations. While the results are not projectable, they provide valuable insights.

What GAO Found

DHS has taken limited actions to assess its foreign language needs and existing capabilities and to identify potential shortfalls. GAO and the Office of Personnel Management have developed strategic workforce guidance that recommends, among other things, that agencies (1) assess workforce needs, such as foreign language needs; (2) assess current competency skills; and (3) compare workforce needs against available skills. However, DHS has done little at the department level, and individual components' approaches to addressing foreign language needs and capabilities and assessing potential shortfalls have not been comprehensive. Specifically: (1) DHS has no systematic method for assessing its foreign language needs and does not address foreign language needs in its Human Capital Strategic Plan. DHS components' efforts to assess foreign language needs vary. For example, the Coast Guard has conducted multiple assessments, CBP's assessments have primarily focused on Spanish language needs, and ICE has not conducted any assessments. By conducting a comprehensive assessment, DHS would be better positioned to capture information on all of its needsand could use this information to inform future strategic planning. (2) DHS has no systematic method for assessing its existing foreign language capabilities and has not conducted a comprehensive capabilities assessment. DHS components have developed various lists of foreign language capable staff that are available in some offices, primarily those that include a foreign language award program for qualified employees. Conducting an assessment of all of its capabilities would better position DHS to manage its resources. (3) DHS and its components have not taken actions to identify potential foreign language shortfalls. DHS officials stated that shortfalls can affect mission goals and officer safety. By using the results of needs and capabilities assessments to identify foreign language shortfalls, DHS would be better positioned to develop actions to mitigate shortfalls, execute its various missions that involve foreign language speakers, and enhance the safety of its officers and agents. DHS and its components have established a variety of foreign language programs and activities but have not assessed the extent to which they address potential shortfalls. Coast Guard, CBP, and ICE have established foreign language programs and activities, which include foreign language training and award payments. These programs and activities vary, as does DHS's ability to use them to address shortfalls. For example, foreign language training programs generally do not include languages other than Spanish, and DHS officials were generally unaware of the foreign language programs in DHS's components. Given this variation and decentralization, conducting a comprehensive assessment of the extent to which its programs and activities address shortfalls could strengthen DHS's ability to manage its foreign language programs and activities and to adjust them, if necessary.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that DHS comprehensively assess its foreign language needs and capabilities and identify potential shortfalls, assess the extent to which existing foreign language programs are addressing foreign language shortfalls, and ensure that these assessments are incorporated into future strategic planning. DHS generally concurs with the recommendations.