C’mon all you big strong defense contractors. Belly up to the feeding trough at Homeland Security. HSA has spent millions and four years updating their dinosaur terrorist tracking computer system, and wouldn’t you know it, the whole thing is a colossal train wreck! In fact things are so FUBARed, HSA has no idea when or how it can be fixed. except, of course that it might cost $1.5 billion or more. No word on how this estimate was reached given they’ve no clue what is wrong. The more cynical among us might think such calculated incompetence is the result of corruption and graft rather than mere stupidity.
After spending millions of dollars and over 4 years on TECS modernization, it is unclear when it will be delivered and at what cost,” [said] David Powner, GAO’s director for information technology management issues.
This antiquated mess of COBOL code patched together over decades that supposed protects us from terrorists doesn’t even have a web browser.
Every day, the antiquated system screens more than 900,000 visitors and roughly 465,000 vehicles. To use the system, CBP personnel must log in to a dedicated TECS computer. The upgrade is supposed to provide users with Web browser access, among other things.
It’s rumored version 2.0 of the upgrade might include those newfangled email and instant messaging thingees all the kids are talking about nowadays.