Homeland Security Dept. finances found in disarray.

• Position: Security beat: homeland defense briefs

The Department of Homeland Security is having a difficult time integrating the financial management systems of its agencies, a dilemma that is leading to a lack of internal controls and reliable reporting, according to the Government Accountability Office.

DHS inherited many of the internal control problems of the 22 agencies placed under its banner in 2003. Among the biggest offenders is the Coast Guard.

GAO reported 30 weaknesses in DHS agency accounting, nine of which have been subject to specific action to resolve them.

The absence of standard operating procedures, the report noted, was "not unexpected for a newly created organization, especially one as large and complex as DHS." However, many bureaus do not have clearly documented procedures, making them vulnerable to confusion when key people leave.

GAO also noted that the department's security program management, system software and control of system access are hampering financial reporting. For example, the accounting process at the Strategic National Stockpile was "fragmented and disconnected," which is leading to the under-accounting of $485 million in 2003, the watchdog agency said.

At the DHS Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, GAO described the process for tracking and reporting the status of applications as "inconsistent and inefficient."

The Coast Guard was cited...