Washington ( CNN ) -- As it nears the 10th anniversary of the terrible events that led to its creation , the Department of Homeland Security is getting a report card of sorts . And the grade , to few people 's surprise : Incomplete . In a massive 221-page report , the Government Accountability Office -- the investigative arm of Congress -- says DHS has `` made significant strides in protecting the nation , but has yet to reach its full potential . '' CNN obtained a draft of the report , which is to be the subject of a Senate hearing on Wednesday . The GAO report is largely a compilation of previous GAO reports , and gives no new recommendations . But for Homeland Security buffs , it is a virtual catalogue of the work that has been accomplished since the department was formed in 2003 , and the work that remains to be done . The GAO said the department has addressed about half of the 1,500 recommendations it has made over the years , and is working on other recommendations , but has left some untouched . Formed from 22 different agencies , the Department of Homeland Security is now the third-largest department in the federal government . It has more than 200,000 employees and an annual budget that has grown from about $ 39 billion in fiscal year 2004 to about $ 55 billion this year . Readers of the report will find a wealth of information about the department 's accomplishments , and of woeful lapses , all organized in 10 areas of responsibility , such as `` aviation security , '' `` border security , '' and `` emergency preparedness . '' In a written response to the report , the DHS accentuated the positive . `` America is a stronger , safer and more resilient country because of the work DHS and its many partners do every day , '' wrote DHS 's Jim Crumpacker . Crumpacker wrote the GAO report neglects to mention some DHS accomplishments , such as improvements to terror watch lists and implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative , which requires documents from border crossers . The following is a summary of key areas in the report : . Aviation Security . The report says DHS has enhanced aviation security by improving the pre-screening of passengers , checkpoint screening , baggage checking and airport security . The Transportation Security Administration currently has about 54,800 people , and a $ 7.7 billion annual budget . But the GAO said it is unclear whether full-body imagers would have detected the so-called `` underwear bomb , '' which failed to ignite on Christmas Day of 2009 when passengers intervened . DHS also has not validated the science behind behavior detection officers . And it does not yet have a way to ensure that air cargo screening is being conducted at reported levels . Border Security . The report says DHS has deployed more than 600 miles of infrastructure , such as fencing , along the border , and implemented a program to verify the identities of foreign visitors to the U.S . But DHS has not implemented a program to track when visitors exit the country , nor has it fully followed up on plans to improve Visa security . Maritime Security . The report says DHS improved port security by tightening access to ports , conducting advanced screening of foreign seafarers entering U.S. ports and developing a security credential for truckers and other entering ports . It also developed a strategy for cargo container security . But the GAO noted that during covert tests , investigators were able to enter ports using counterfeit credentials or authentic credentials obtained fraudulently . And the U.S. has trouble tracking smaller , noncommercial vessels , it says . Further , DHS has not yet developed a plan to fully implement a requirement that 100 percent of U.S.-bound container cargo be scanned by 2012 . Immigration Enforcement . The report says DHS increased resources to investigate people who overstay their visas , and alien smuggling operations , and improved E-Verify , a computer tool that allows employers to verify a person 's authorization to work in the United States . It also expanded efforts to remove criminal aliens in jails and prisons from the United States . But key weaknesses remain in DHS 's efforts , the report says . While DHS field offices had closed about 34,700 overstay investigations during the past six years , the cases resulted in about 8,100 arrests , a small portion of the estimated overstay population of 4 million to 5.5 million .
Senate report : DHS `` has yet to reach its full potential '' Report is to be the subject of a GAO hearing on this year . Senate says department has addressed 10 of its recommendations . DHS says report fails to mention some accomplishments .