Federal agencies are under pressure to enhance security measures at federal buildings, with legislation pushing for stricter accountability on implementing protective upgrades.
More than three years after rioters attacked and ransacked the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, the security of federal buildings remains a top concern among government officials and lawmakers. In the aftermath of the attack, Congress appropriated $300 million to reinforce windows and upgrade the security camera system on the Capitol grounds. In addition, other funds were used to reinforce exterior and interior doors, enhance security lighting, and improve perimeter detection systems.
While the Capitol ground received upgrades, the same can't be said for the majority of the 9,000 federal buildings in the United States, despite recommendations from the Federal Protective Service (FPS), a law enforcement agency housed within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Overall, the DHS is responsible for protecting federal facilities, employees and visitors from acts of terrorism or other crimes, including robbery, burglary or vandalism. The FPS is an enforcement agency that provides integrated security and law enforcement services to federally-owned and leased facilities. With a relatively small staff of approximately 1,300 employees—most of whom are law enforcement specialists or criminal investigators—the FPS conducts risk assessments and makes recommendations for ways to enhance security measures, such as upgrading access control systems, video surveillance, and perimeter barriers. However, the FPS can't mandate or fund changes. The decision falls to individual federal agencies.
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), agency response has been spotty, at best. Between 2017 and 2021, the FPS issued over 25,000 security recommendations to more than 5,000 federal facilities. However, more than half of those recommendations were essentially ignored. And of the 6,800 approved recommendations, only 22 percent were actually implemented, as of September 2022. Lack of funding was a common reason.
"FPS data shows it did not receive a decision as to whether agencies approved or rejected more than half of the 25,000 security recommendations," said Catina Latham, former acting director of the GAO's Physical Infrastructure team during testimony before the DHS subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability in 2022. "This data also shows an agency's approval of a recommendation does not necessarily mean it will be implemented."
In direct response to these findings, U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sponsored the bi-partisan "Improving Federal Building Security Act," which the U.S. Senate unanimously approved in March 2024. The intent of the bill is to increase the accountability of federal agencies that have been historically slow to implement security measures.
“Federal buildings across the country serve as workplaces for federal employees and host daily visitors who come to access critical federal services,” said Senator Peters, in a statement. “As federal buildings continue to face threats, my bipartisan bill will help ensure federal agencies are following the most up-to-date security recommendations to protect both these buildings and the people in them.”
The bill gives federal agencies 90 days to respond in writing to the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security whether they intend to adopt or reject specific recommendations provided by the FPS. The bill will also require the DHS to submit annual reports to Congress regarding agency responses. The bill is pending a vote in the House of Representatives.
The types of access control technologies available to federal agencies are numerous. According to the DHS' Access Control Technologies Handbook, an official reference guide for designing access control systems, physical protection programs should have four objectives:
The first line of defense of any security program starts with vehicular access. Physical barriers can include crash gates that slide across roadways on a track, a drop arm common to parking structures, a steel "wedge" that rises from ground level to stop a vehicle's wheels, and fixed or retractable bollards capable of stopping a fast-moving vehicle cold.
Another layer involves perimeter surveillance. IP cameras are widely used, because they provide high resolution video footage and can be integrated into networks that allow for remote access and monitoring. Cameras that utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and smart analytics are becoming more popular, offering such advanced capabilities as motion detection, object tracking, and license plate recognition. Systems might also employ thermal cameras, which can detect the heat signatures of people and vehicles in pitch darkness. Security cameras utilized in federal buildings must meet strict standards, including the ability to ensure encryption and transmit video data securely to prevent cybercrime.
The next layer of defense are entry points, including doors and portals. Cards and badges are the most common form of identification used. Badges typically have a photograph, but can also be equipped with a barcode, holographic image, or water mark. Some access control systems use smart cards that utilize radio frequency (RF) communications allowing users to tap a card reader, rather than swipe. Advances in biometric technology have also made access control more stringent, with options including facial, fingerprint, hand, retina, voice, and even signature dynamics recognition.
In addition to locked doors, mantraps are effective two-sided portals that require individuals to pass through an exterior door, a short vestibule, and then an interior door leading into a building. In more sophisticated mantraps, scanning technology can detect when one or more people attempt to piggyback behind someone who has credentials, and deny them all entry.
Beyond these technological deterrents, the most important aspects of an effective security program are human. In addition to its own personnel, the FPS contracts with thousands of armed security guards who monitor key entry points and patrol facilities. In the event of an emergency, FPS officers are typically the first responders, but they also coordinate with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Armed security is especially essential for high risk buildings, such as courthouses, intelligence agencies, and military installations.
Federal buildings must balance the need for security, while ensuring public access, when appropriate. Should the Improving Federal Building Security Act be approved by the House and the Office of the President, it will lend another level of accountability to federal agencies to heed the recommendations of the FPS. It remains to be seen how they will respond.
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