U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowGovernment Website**Official websites use .gov**
              
                              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Safely connect using HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
              
              A **lock**
                (A locked padlock)
                or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.  
 Menu

      close
        
                            Enter Search Term
                Search
      Topics
      
                
  
          Topics


      
        Topics
    
    
              Border Security
      
    
              Citizenship and Immigration
      
    
              Cybersecurity
      
    
              Disasters
      
    
              Election Security
      
    
              Homeland Security Enterprise
      
    
              Human Trafficking
      
    
              Immigration and Customs Enforcement
      
    
              Preventing Terrorism and Targeted Violence
      
    
              Resilience
      
    
              Science and Technology
      
    
              Trade and Economic Security
      
    
              Transportation Security
      
    
              News
      
                
  
          News


      
        News
    
    
              All DHS News
      
    
              Apps
      
    
              Blog
      
    
              Comunicados de Prensa
      
    
              Data
      
    
              Events
      
    
              Fact Sheets
      
    
              Featured News
      
    
              Homeland Security LIVE
      
    
              Media Contacts
      
    
              Media Library
      
    
              National Terrorism Advisory System
      
    
              Press Releases
      
    
              Publications Library
      
    
              Social Media
      
    
              Speeches
      
    
              Subscribe
      
    
              Testimony
      
    
              In Focus
      
                
  
          In Focus


      
        In Focus
    
    
              Addressing Climate Change
      
    
              Artificial Intelligence at DHS
      
    
              Cybersecurity
      
    
              Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
      
    
              Honoring Veterans
      
    
              Migration and Borders
      
    
              Operation Allies Welcome
      
    
              Recognizing DHS Excellence
      
    
              Uniting for Ukraine
      
    
              How Do I?
      
                
  
          How Do I?


      
        How Do I?
    
    
              Alphabetical Listing
      
    
              At DHS
      
    
              For Businesses
      
    
              For Travelers
      
    
              For the Public
      
    
              Get Involved
      
                
  
          Get Involved


      
        Get Involved
    
    
              #BeCyberSmart
      
    
              Blue Campaign
      
    
              Citizen Corps
      
    
              If You See Something, Say Something®
      
    
              Know2Protect
      
    
              Nationwide SAR Initiative
      
    
              REAL ID
      
    
              Ready.gov
      
    
              Stop the Bleed
      
    
              US Coast Guard Auxiliary
      
    
              About DHS
      
                
  
          About DHS


      
        About DHS
    
    
              Budget & Performance
      
    
              Contact Us
      
    
              Employee Resources
      
    
              History
      
    
              Homeland Security Careers
      
    
              In Memoriam
      
    
              Laws & Regulations
      
    
              Leadership
      
    
              Mission
      
    
              Organization
      
    
              Priorities
      
    
              Site Links Breadcrumb
Home
  About DHS
  Budget & Performance
  GAO High-Risk Management

     Budget & Performance
                
      Congressional Appropriations Reports
                
                    
      
      DHS Budget
                
                    
      
      Evaluation and Evidence Plans
                
                    
                    
      GAO High-Risk Management
                
                    
      
      Hiring Excellence at DHS
                
                    
      
      Open Government
                
                    
      
      Performance & Financial ReportsContact Us
                
                    
      
      Employee Resources
                
                    
      
      History
                
                    
      
      Homeland Security Careers
                
                    
      
      In Memoriam
                
                    
      
      Laws & Regulations
                
                    
      
      Leadership
                
                    
      
      Mission
                
                    
      
      Organization
                
                    
      
      Priorities
                
                    
      
      Site LinksGAO High-Risk Management
In 2003, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) designated “Implementing and Transforming DHS” as high-risk, due to the significant challenges associated with integrating 22 agencies, all with different cultures, systems, processes, and existing management challenges.  GAO’s prior work on mergers and acquisitions, undertaken before the creation of DHS, found that successful transformations of large organizations (even those faced with less strenuous reorganizations) can take years to achieve.

In 2010, GAO identified 31 Outcomes (subsequently reduced to 30) that DHS must satisfy in order to address its underlying management challenges and be removed from the High-Risk List. These outcomes were grouped into five functional areas:

Information Technology Management,
	Financial Management
	Human Capital Management
	Acquisition Management
	Management IntegrationIn 2011, DHS published its first semi-annual “Integrated Strategy for High-Risk Management” (Integrated Strategy), consisting of (1) detailed corrective action plans containing goals and metrics that correlate directly to GAO’s Outcomes, and (2) describing desired end-states of maturation for the DHS management functions.  To ensure adequate oversight, a department-level Chief Executive Officer (e.g., Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, etc.) was identified to monitor progress, manage risk and implement mitigation plans for each outcome.  In addition, the Under Secretary for Management conducts regular leadership meetings with the Chief Executive Officers to monitor progress on key initiatives and high-risk issues.

In 2013, GAO narrowed the scope of this high-risk issue area and changed the name to “Strengthening DHS Management Functions,” reporting that DHS had “made considerable progress in transforming its original component agencies into a single cabinet-level department and positioning itself to achieve its full potential.”

In 2023, GAO further narrowed the scope of this issue area and changed the name to “Strengthening DHS Information Technology and Financial Management Functions.”  GAO considered the outcomes in the Acquisition Management and Human Capital Management functional areas to be fully addressed.  Today, eight outcomes remain open (one each in Information Technology Management and Management Integration, and six in Financial Management).  Several of the remaining outcomes are dependent on the implementation of modernized financial and business systems, a multi-year effort.

GAO has remarked favorably on the Department’s demonstrated substantial progress to fully address its management challenges, especially as regards DHS’s top leaders continuing commitment and support.  Moving forward, DHS will continue to build on this progress by fully implementing the Integrated Strategy and ultimately work with GAO to remove the Department from the High-Risk List.
      
    
    KeywordsRisk Management

    Last Updated: 10/18/2023
  
Was this page helpful?
  Yes
NoThis page was not helpful because the content
  has too little information
has too much information
is confusing
is out-of-date Return to top

           Topics
      
    
                  News
      
    
                  In Focus
      
    
                  How Do I?
      
    
                  Get Involved
      
    
                  About DHS
                            
        U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal
      
    DHS.gov
                  An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityAbout DHS
                              Accessibility
                              Budget and Performance
                              DHS Components
                              FOIA Requests
                              No FEAR Act Data
                              Privacy Policy
                              Site Links
                              Office of Inspector General
                              The White House
                              USA.gov

                        Looking for U.S. government information and services?
                Visit USA.gov