	General Services Administration: Many Building Security Upgrades Made but Problems Have Hindered Program Implementation

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: I am pleased to be here today to discuss the General Services Administration’s (GSA) progress in upgrading the security of federal buildings under its operation. 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. Because of data reliability problems, neither GSA nor we 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 we know the extent to which completed upgrades have resulted in greater security or reduced vulnerability for federal office buildings. Thus, GSA is not in a good position to manage its program to mitigate security threats. Nevertheless, based on the existing accounting system data, we estimate that from October 1, 1995, through March 31, 1998, GSA obligated roughly $353 million for the building security upgrade program nationally. Specifically, we were to determine (1) what criteria GSA used to assess security risks and prioritize security upgrades for its buildings, (2) the implementation and operational status of GSA’s security upgrade program and the costs GSA has incurred by both funding source and type of security upgrade, and (3) whether any problems have hindered GSA’s implementation of the security upgrade program.
Why GAO Did This Study

GAO discussed the General Services Administration's (GSA) progress in upgrading the security of federal buildings under its operation, focusing on: (1) what criteria GSA used to assess security risks and prioritize security upgrades for its buildings; (2) the implementation and operational status of GSA's security upgrade program and the costs GSA has incurred by both funding source and type of security upgrade; and (3) whether any problems have hindered GSA's implementation of the security upgrade program.

What GAO Found

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.