It seems almost daily that reports are issued criticizing some failure to properly manage and oversee huge contracts to private firms working with the federal government.

For background on this story, see the Washington Post article [from 27 July  2006] summarized a report chronicling problems with billions of dollars of contracts for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

There are always many sides to any issue, and it would be most unhelpful and counterproductive to launch into attack mode against DHS on the basis of what was covered in this report alone.  However, it cannot be overstated how critical it is for the Executive Branch to adequately control the process by which contractor firms and employees interface and support government operations.

Contracting out government work and services is here to stay, and is likely to continue to grow despite apparent shortcomings in adequate review and oversight of expensive contracts.  Gone are the days of incoming workers spending their entire careers with one employer, which also includes the federal, state, and local governments.  Thus, ongoing support and collaboration with private sector companies and employees is a given.  What also must be a given is assurance that taxpayers are receiving the services for which they are paying through these many contracts.

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