How DHS cut costs: Software recycling, contract consolidation

Napolitano says department is saving money through IT recycling and other measures

Secretary Janet Napolitano said the Homeland Security Department is saving money by recycling software, consolidating contracts and pursuing other cost-cutting measures.

For example, the Coast Guard saved $1.7 million by consolidating 10 support contracts into three, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials expect to save $130,000 by replacing on-site management training with teleconferences, according to a news release issued June 26.

Furthermore, the Transportation Security Administration is recycling underused software applications to save $433,000 by avoiding new software purchases.

In February, Napolitano directed the leaders of all 22 DHS agencies to identify past and current efforts to improve efficiency and launch new ones.

About the Author

Alice Lipowicz is a staff writer covering government 2.0, homeland security and other IT policies for Federal Computer Week.

Featured

  • FCW PERSPECTIVES
    sensor network (agsandrew/Shutterstock.com)

    Are agencies really ready for EIS?

    The telecom contract has the potential to reinvent IT infrastructure, but finding the bandwidth to take full advantage could prove difficult.

  • People
    Dave Powner, GAO

    Dave Powner audits the state of federal IT

    The GAO director of information technology issues is leaving government after 16 years. On his way out the door, Dave Powner details how far govtech has come in the past two decades and flags the most critical issues he sees facing federal IT leaders.

  • FCW Illustration. Original Images: Shutterstock, Airbnb

    Should federal contracting be more like Airbnb?

    Steve Kelman believes a lighter touch and a bit more trust could transform today's compliance culture.

Stay Connected

FCW Update

Sign up for our newsletter.

I agree to this site's Privacy Policy.