Customs Service: Process for Estimating and Allocating Inspectional Personnel
GGD-98-107
Published: Apr 30, 1998. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 1998.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed selected aspects of the Custom Service's drug enforcement operations, focusing on: (1) how Customs assesses its needs for inspectional personnel and allocates such resources to commercial cargo ports of entry; (2) whether Customs received all the additional inspectional personnel its assessments indicated it needed and, if not, why it did not receive them; and (3) whether there were any known implications of Customs' not receiving all of the personnel estimated to be needed and the impact of the additional personnel that were appropriated on Customs' drug enforcement operations.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| United States Customs and Border Protection | As a sound strategic planning practice, and taking into account budget and other constraints, the Commissioner of Customs should establish a systematic process to ensure, to the extent possible, that Customs' inspectional personnel are properly aligned with its goals, objectives, and strategies, including those for drug enforcement. Such a process should include conducting annual assessments to determine the appropriate staffing levels for its operational activities related to processing cargo at commercial ports. |
Closed – Not Implemented
In April 2000, GAO testified that more verification needed to be performed on some questionable Resource Allocation Model input data, and GAO questioned the model's lack of sophistication in being able to determine variations in a number of port-specific processes. Customs had taken some action to verify the data, but had not provided GAO with any documentation concerning verification of port-specific input data or modifications to improve the sophistication of the model itself. Without actual data to analyze, GAO was unable to agree with Customs that actions taken were adequate to close the recommendation. GAO is, however, closing this recommendation as not implemented because, as of March 2003, Customs was merged into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). With an entirely new DHS structure and a melding of border security resources including those from legacy Customs and INS, DHS will need to develop entirely new workforce planning processes and strategies, which obviates the need for continuing development on the Customs Resources Allocation Model.
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Customs administrationDrug traffickingFederal employeesInspectionLaw enforcementPresidential budgetsSearch and seizureSmugglingStaff utilizationStrategic planningFreight trains