Norton Subcommittee to Hear Testimony on Allegations of Corruption & Mismanagement of FPS (6/20/07)

Washington, DC-Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), will probe allegations of wrongdoing, chaos and irregularities in the contracting and employment of security officers who protect federal employees nationwide through the Federal Protective Service (FPS), at an investigative hearing at 10 AM, Thursday, June 21, in Room 2253 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Norton has held oversight hearings on several subjects and agencies, but this hearing on the FPS, a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will be the first investigative hearing of Norton's Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. Witnesses, including officials and guards who worked for STARTECH International Security contracted by FPS, will testify about allegations of late payments to guards, use of uncertified officers, and security posts left vacant at federal buildings. STARTECH Vice President Weldon Waites, who is under investigation by federal authorities, will be among the witnesses. The private firm recently lost its contract with the FPS, after guards at a number of facilities here in the District were not paid for weeks, even though FPS had forwarded funds to STARTECH for their wages to carry out its contract. Norton is particularly concerned about compromised security that resulted when some of the unpaid contract officers vacated their posts. Two security guards who were not paid by STARTECH and two union representatives--James Carney of the United Government Security Officers of America, and Assane Faye of the Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America--will offer testimony concerning the failure of STARTECH and FPS to take control of the situation when guards were on the job but unpaid. The unions also will testify that these same problems often are found in FPS controlled federal facilities in other parts of the country, and that the STARTECH contract is not an isolated incident.

Norton said that after 9/11, FPS was moved from the General Services Administration, over which Norton also has jurisdiction, to DHS in order to improve the security of two million federal government employees. Prior hearings on FPS by her subcommittee have shown slashes in FPS guards since 9/11 and conversions of many peace officers to safety and security by inspectors of federal buildings. Norton is a member of both committees with jurisdiction over the issues involved.