The author of the report, Randolph Hite, director of information technology architecture and systems issues for the GAO, could not be reached for comment Friday.

In response, Steven Pecinovsky, director of the departmental GAO/Office of the Inspector General Liaison Office in the DHS, said his agency agrees that "robust planning and management will help ensure success" of the program and that clear, focused steps are being taken to accomplish that, including creation of management teams with clear goals and the creation of procedures, priorities and implementation targets and strategies.