Wolf Again Putting Pressure on Agencies to Increase Telecommuting

DHS Says No to Merger Idea

Efforts to control the nation's borders will be set back a year or more if Congress orders a merger of two agencies in the Department of Homeland Security, a senior department official testified yesterday.

Stewart A. Baker , assistant secretary for policy at the department, said progress has been made to improve coordination and information sharing between Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"Many of the problems are in our rear-view mirror," Baker told the House Homeland Security subcommittee on management issues chaired by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.).

Baker said that to force CBP and ICE to merge just two years after the department began operations would create turmoil for thousands of employees, including uncertainty about job and managerial responsibilities.

Rogers and Reps. Mark Edward Souder (R-Ind.) and Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), however, indicated that they are taking seriously a recommendation by the department's inspector general that a merger would improve accountability and coordination. Rogers called the current division of functions "an organizational mess," and Souder said the "artificial, illogical division" was jeopardizing efforts to interdict illegal drugs.

Diary Live Today

Walton Francis , chief author of Checkbook's 2006 Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees, will take questions on the federal health benefits program at noon today on Federal Diary Live at http://www.washingtonpost.com . Please join us.

E-mail:barrs@washpost.com