Customs Service: Status of Reorganization and Modernization Efforts

GAO discussed the Customs Service's reorganization and automated systems improvement efforts. GAO noted that: (1) Customs has undertaken an integrated proactive approach designed to rethink its organizational structure and assess the technological needs of the future; (2) Customs envisions developing a fully integrated system that can identify and track an import transaction from the point of initial filing until the transaction is closed; (3) Customs should finish defining its business processes before redesigning the import system or purchasing equipment to ensure that the import system adequately supports import customers and trade enforcement; (4) Customs should develop performance measures to assess whether the new processes are making a difference and ensure there are clear lines of accountability; and (5) although Customs has taken a comprehensive approach to improving its operations, much work needs to be done to transform these efforts into reality.