Protecting D.C.- Management of the Federal Protective Service investigated

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia held a hearing regarding management challenges facing the Federal Protective Service (FPS).

Senators at the hearing questioned Director of the FPS (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement section) Gary Schenkel and Mark Goldstein, Director of Physical Infrastructure Issues at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) about the progress the FPS has had in protecting Washington from terrorist attacks, as well as enforcing the law.

Schenkel argued that his agency has been successful in protecting the city and people of Washington in recent years despite a lack of sufficient funding from the government. With more money, Schenkel said the FPS could increase the protection of the over 9,000 buildings they oversee the protection of yearly. Goldstein noted that despite a lack of proper equipment the GAO has improved training for police officers in recent years and is looking to continue to do so.