Senate moves to tighten federal buildings security
The GAO reported that undercover investigators were able to smuggle explosives-making materials into federal buildings, then assemble explosive devices — all without security guards being aware of what was taking place under their noses; the Congress is unhappy
We reported last week that undercover investigators were able to smuggle explosives-making materials into federal buildings, then assemble explosive devices — all without security guard being aware of what was taking place under their noses (see 8 July 2009 HSNW). The Washington Post reports that legislation that would modernize the Federal Protective Service (FPS) should be completed soon, after the GAO, in a scathing report, detailed the undercover investigators’ exploits.
By the end of July, lawmakers expect to see draft legislation that proposes a “fairly significant” modernization of FPS, according to congressional aides. The bill is likely to give Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano new marching orders on how to reshape the agency. As of this writing, however, it is unclear whether the bill will propose federalizing all or some of the approximately 13,000 private security contractors employed by FPS.
Conversations in recent days with private guards and union leaders for the 1,200 FPS employees indicate that federalization may be the only way to solve the agency’s woes. They suggest that government-issued training standards, security procedures and pay scales would boost guard morale and remove the stigma of any agency relegated to second-class status.
Matthew Harwood writes that the head of the union that represents FPS guards, David Wright, president of AFGE Local 918, told the Post that it was a mistake for the Bush administration to put the FPS underneath the aegis of Customs and Border Protection within the Department of Homeland Security. Wright said that the CBP’s upper management neglects building security.
