While the upcoming Obama Administration is an exciting moment for America, we must also be vigilant on having a smooth transition from the current administration into the next.  This is especially important for the Homeland Security Department - this is its first transition since it was formed in 2002.

As Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security - the Committee charged with overseeing the management of this transition - I am proud that we have been planning for this for over a year.  Nevertheless, the wheels have just begun turning on the next administration and we must ensure that the Department is managed efficiently and comprehensively through this period.  History demonstrates that we are most vulnerable during a leadership transition.

It is imperative that the nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security can manage the sheer size of the Department.  With over 200,000 employees and a budget of over $50 billion, it is one of the largest in federal government.  The nominee must also be able to prepare for and respond to national emergencies of any kind.  The next Secretary must also realize that Homeland Security is a bipartisan issue which requires common sense policies and solutions.

The transition also gives the Department an opportunity to unify and improve on the Department we have today.  Heavy reliance on contractors and low employee morale are examples of issues which need improvement.

Finally we owe the American people security and accountability - and we must ensure the Department and its new Secretary reflects this.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 13th, 2008 at 10:16 am and is filed under Uncategorized .