U S Government Accountability Office

DHS management, enhanced oversight could better ensure programs receiving fees and other collections use funds efficiently U S Government Accountability Office

" The uncertain budgetary environment highlights the need for DHS to effectively manage and oversee billions of dollars in fees and other collections from users of homeland security program services. Each DHS component is responsible for administering, managing, and reviewing their respective programs to ensure that, consistent with law and policy, rates charged to users of program services are set to collect amounts sufficient to recover program costs and ensure efficient operations, but not in excess of operational needs. GAO was asked to review DHS's management and oversight of these programs. This report examines the extent to which (1) DHS components receive fees and other collections to recover program costs and manage any differences, as appropriate; (2) DHS components have processes in place to manage unobligated balances; and (3) DHS ensures components review their programs and monitors component action to address any management and operational deficiencies. GAO analyzed DHS financial information for 38 programs receiving fees and other collections in fiscal year 2014, examined DHS fee reviews and study results, and interviewed agency officials. "