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Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2003–March 31, 2004
Office of the Inspector General


Top Management Challenges

The OIG has created a list of top management challenges in the Department annually since 1998, initially in response to congressional requests but in recent years as part of the Department's annual Performance and Accountability Report.

The OIG's list of top challenges for this year, issued in November 2003, is below. The list is not presented in order of priority. However, it is clear that the top challenge this year, as on last year's list, is the Department's ongoing response to the threat of terrorism.

Eight of the challenges from last year's list remain. They are long-standing, difficult issues that will not be solved quickly or easily.

We have added two new top challenges this year: (1) Protecting the Security of Department Information and Infrastructure and (2) Reducing the Supply of and Demand for Illegal Drugs. Maintaining the security of classified information and protecting critical infrastructure is a key challenge for the Department, as revealed by the espionage case of former FBI Special Agent Robert Hanssen and several ongoing OIG reviews. The other new challenge - reducing the supply of illegal drugs, the diversion of legal drugs for illicit use, and the demand for drugs in this country - is a critical challenge facing the Department and the nation.

Top Management Challenges in the Department of Justice - 2003

  1. Counterterrorism
  2. Sharing of Intelligence and Law Enforcement Information
  3. Information Systems Planning and Implementation
  4. Computer Systems Security
  5. Financial Management
  6. Grant Management
  7. Performance-Based Management
  8. Human Capital
  9. Protecting the Security of Department Information and Infrastructure
  10. Reducing the Supply of and Demand for Illegal Drugs

Detailed information about these management challenges can be found at www.usdoj.gov/oig/challenges/index.htm.