From the Washington Post:
The Homeland Security Department spent more than $90 million to create a network for sharing sensitive anti-terrorism information with state and local governments that it has decided to replace, according to an internal department document.
The decision was made late last year but was not announced. It was outlined in an Oct. 27 memorandum that listed the network’s flaws and asserted that DHS’s counterterrorism, immigration enforcement and disaster management missions were hampered by the proliferation of more than 100 Web “portals” that provide poorly coordinated information.
“Most are duplicative in capabilities” and lack innovation, noted the memo by DHS Undersecretary for Management Paul A. Schneider. He said that as a result, the department “will replace” the current system, known as the Homeland Security Information Network.
The decision underscores recurring criticism about the department’s effectiveness at meeting the core need to better share information with government and private partners involved in counterterrorism efforts five years after it was formed, according to lawmakers and independent experts. The department also has repeatedly rushed crucial technology initiatives, leading to delays and millions of dollars in additional costs.
[tags]DHS, Anti-Terrorism, DHS Data Network, Terrorism[/tags]
