Challenges in Federal Facility Security: Oversight Issues and System Failures at FPS
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report highlighting critical shortcomings in the Federal Protective Service (FPS), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsible for securing federal facilities. The report, GAO-25-108085, reveals that FPS contract guards frequently fail to detect prohibited items during covert tests and that the agency’s Post Tracking System (PTS), designed to modernize guard oversight, remains unreliable. These failures raise concerns about the security of federal properties and the effectiveness of FPS’s $1.7 billion contract guard program.
FPS employs over 13,000 contract guards to screen visitors at federal buildings, yet their effectiveness in preventing prohibited items from entering these facilities is inconsistent. In GAO’s covert testing, guards failed to detect prohibited items—including batons, pepper spray, and knives—in nearly half of the attempts. This poor performance is not new; FPS’s own internal covert testing from 2020 to 2023 showed similar results, with guards missing prohibited items in about half of the nearly 500 tests conducted. The agency collects data on these failures, but issues with data reliability and analysis prevent FPS from using this information to enhance guard performance.
One major issue is that FPS does not properly track the reasons guards fail covert tests. In most cases, FPS attributes failures to a generic “human factor” without identifying specific causes, such as inadequate training, poor procedures, or faulty equipment. This lack of precise data prevents FPS from taking targeted corrective actions to improve security screening. Additionally, remedial training for guards who fail covert tests is inconsistently applied, further exacerbating the problem. While FPS introduced a new process in August 2023 requiring approval for corrective action plans, it remains unclear whether this has led to meaningful improvements.
The FPS Post Tracking System (PTS), deployed in 2018 to enhance contract guard oversight, has been riddled with technical failures and inefficiencies. Instead of replacing outdated paper-based records, PTS has not been fully implemented and continues to experience functionality gaps. In April 2022, FPS found that PTS failed to meet 782 out of 1,487 system requirements, meaning it could not accurately verify guard postings, track certifications, or provide real-time staffing updates. Despite claims from FPS that many of these issues have been addressed, the agency has not provided documentation to support these assertions.
PTS was originally expected to be a cost-effective solution, but its expenses have ballooned. The initial life cycle cost estimate was over $91 million, with FPS responsible for nearly $38 million and security guard contractors covering the rest. However, unanticipated technical problems, staffing shortages, and reconfiguration efforts have increased FPS’s costs to at least $41.7 million. As of fiscal year 2025, FPS has spent approximately $27 million on PTS development and plans to request an additional $3 million. The system's prolonged deployment has left security guard contractors struggling with its unreliable interface, forcing them to hire additional IT specialists to troubleshoot persistent issues.
The failure of PTS to function as intended has real consequences for federal agencies that rely on FPS guards. The IRS and Social Security Administration (SSA), which operate public-facing offices, report frequent security disruptions due to unstaffed guard posts. Since 2022, the IRS has had to close 30 Taxpayer Assistance Centers for a full day due to a lack of guards, while the SSA has reported 510 separate instances where offices had to close for hours or an entire day. Without a functioning oversight system like PTS, agencies are left without timely notifications of guard shortages, making it difficult to plan and respond to security risks.
Compounding the problem, PTS does not integrate seamlessly with other FPS systems, requiring manual data transfers that introduce errors and inefficiencies. The system was designed to automatically update guard certifications and staffing requirements, but frequent inconsistencies result in guards being incorrectly flagged as unqualified. These data reliability issues have undermined confidence in PTS, with both FPS officials and security contractors acknowledging that they do not rely on it for operational decision-making.
The GAO has made four key recommendations to address these deficiencies:
FPS should improve the accuracy and consistency of its covert testing data by implementing standardized reporting procedures.
FPS should develop clearer guidance to ensure that security guard contractors apply appropriate corrective training when guards fail covert tests.
FPS should analyze covert testing results more systematically to drive improvements in guard performance.
DHS’s Chief Information Officer should decide whether to continue investing in PTS, replace it with a more effective system, or implement corrective actions, including a plan for real-time tenant notifications of guard shortages.
FPS has agreed with these recommendations, but whether the agency will take meaningful action remains to be seen. If FPS does not resolve these security vulnerabilities, federal buildings will remain at risk, and taxpayers will continue to fund an ineffective oversight system. Until FPS implements rigorous testing, accurate data analysis, and a functioning tracking system, the security of federal facilities will remain in question.
Disclaimer: This blog post summarizes GAO-25-108085 and is intended for informational purposes only. The accuracy of the report’s findings is not independently verified, and this post does not constitute legal or security advice.
