$170 Million wasted, FBI grilled by senators

[The Straight Story]

Senators grill FBI chief over failed Virtual Case File system

By Sarah Lai Stirland, National Journal's Technology Daily

The Justice Department needs a more thorough oversight plan for its information systems overhaul, and Congress might play a larger role in that process, the chairman of a Senate appropriations subcommittee said Tuesday.

"I expect results, and I will do everything I can to ensure that there is congressional oversight for" the FBI's electronic filing system, said Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., who heads the new Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee.

Like the other senators on the panel, Shelby expressed dismay at the failure of the FBI to successfully upgrade its digital case-management system, and he called for more accountability in Congress and within the agency to follow up. He also told Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that he should ensure that all the systems under development within the Justice Department are interoperable.

After many delays over five years and $170 million, FBI Director Robert Mueller in March said the agency would abandon department-wide implementation of its Virtual Case File system. It has embarked on building a new system called Sentinel.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0505/052405tdpm1.htm

[DrDebug]

1. It is a Microsoft system, right?

$170M + 5 years and it is still shit.

[libertypirate]

2. It has very little to do with the technology....

You make more money when it's not on time...

[Supersedeas]

3. and this is the small government crowd???

small government = LARGE PRIVATE CONTRACTS TO ROLL IN THE TAXPAYER $$