Semiannual Report to Congress

October 1, 2004–March 31, 2005
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 October 2004, is to the right. The challenges are not presented in order of priority – we believe that all are critical management issues facing the Department. However, it is clear that the top challenge facing the Department is its ongoing response to the threat of terrorism. Several other top challenges are closely related to and impact directly on the Department’s counterterrorism efforts.

Eight of the challenges from last year’s list remain and are long-standing, difficult challenges that will not be solved quickly or easily. However, two challenges from last year’s list have been replaced by two other challenges. We removed “Performance Based Management” and “Protecting the Security of Department Information and Infrastructure” this year and added two new challenges – “Detention and Incarceration ” and “Forensic Laboratories.”

Top Management Challenges in the Department of Justice – 2004

  1. Counterterrorism
  2. Sharing of Intelligence and Law Enforcement Information
  3. Information Technology Systems Planning and Implementation
  4. Computer Systems Security
  5. Financial Management and Systems
  6. Grant Management
  7. Detention and Incarceration
  8. Human Capital
  9. Forensic Laboratories
  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.



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