Chertoff complains of heavy congressional oversight.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS - Michael Chertoff - Brief article

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* During 2007, Department of Homeland Security officials testified before Congress 224 times.

That averages to about four times a week, Secretary Michael Chertoff pointed out in his annual end of the year speech that touted the department's accomplishments.

The problem is that the department answers to 86 different congressional committees and subcommittees.

The department was created from 22 legacy agencies, and each fell under several committees. For example, the Coast Guard still answers to transportation, commerce, natural resources and appropriations committees as well as the homeland security committees that were created after 9/11.

The 9/11 Commission recommended that Congress pare down the number of committees that have oversight responsibilities, but its report came out in 2004, and since then nothing has happened, Chertoff complained.

"Much to my dismay, this recommendation on streamlining oversight has gone largely unheeded," he said. "We face a situation that I would describe as oversight run amok."

Since the department's creation, DHS officials have testified 761 times, provided roughly 7,800 written reports and answered more than...