Investigated the incident. This is two hours. The House Committee on Homeland Security subcommittee on oversight and Management Efficiency in the Governmental Affairs on subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and federal management will come to order. The purpose of this hearing is to examine failures at the u. S. Secret service and their implications governmentwide. The chair recognizes himself for an opening statement. In september, the the dhs office of Inspector General of the oig released a report on its four month long investigation into improper access and distribution of information within the secret service. The findings were alarming. Widespread violation of the privacy act and Agency Policy occurred by secret Service Employees who access and distributed information on a number of congress past Employment Application and Senior Management did nothing immediately to stop it. Inspector general john roth stated the episode was deeply disturbing. In addition, director clancy announced he had a different account different account of what he initially told oig. Investigators had to re interview clancy and issue an addendum to the report. This incident leaves questions unanswered. How did this happen . Why did secret Service Leadership not act . And why and how did rector clancy change his account almost immediately after the oig report was released . The American People deserve answers. Dhs must hold all employees involved a properly accountable. As deterred disturbing as this is, it is only one example of other instances where secret Service Employees short poor judgment and leadership ltac. Earlier this year senior agents who may be under the influence of alcohol compromised an area at the white house being investigated for a suspicious package. Director clancy was again not immediately informed. Late last year, oig also reported about a 2011 incident where agents were diverted to investigate an accident at correction in incident at the home of the director which appeared to be the misuse of Agency Resources in violation of the code of ethics. The findings in the oig report is another example of the damage to American Peoples trust in the secret service. When scandal after scandal emerges, and management is illinformed or fails to act, the American People has cause for great concern. We entrust the secret service with tremendous authority and tools. When they have blooms those authorities they violate their contract with the American People. Because of the services recent failure, dhs secretary jay johnson convened a panel of experts last year to recommend changes to improve the service. Panel made recommendations in 2014 related to training and personnel, personal security, technology, and operation, and leadership. The report provided a and leadership. The report provided a broad roadmap to begin reforming the service. I expect rector clancy to fully explain today, what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations. While congress has responsible responsibility to conduct oversight we must also understand what is being done to improve the overall management of the secret service. I am also concerned that similar abuses and shortcomings could occur in other federal lawenforcement agencies. It is important to understand what policies and safeguards, if any are in place to prevent similar abuse regardless if it is a member of congress or one of our constituents back home. If it happened at the service, what is to say other federal agencies are any better . Todays hearing must be more about pointing fingers, the the American People have high expectations, as they should, for the secret service and what the agency to be successful. It is actually critical to our nations wellbeing as an we saw from excellent work during the papal visit, and United Nations general assembly, the service can succeed with proper focus and leadership. I. I look forward to hearing more from our witnesses on how the secret service can best overcome recent obstacles to improve the management and reform the culture of this critical agency. The chair now recognizes the chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, the gentleman from oklahoma, for his statement. Thank you very much. Thank you for holding this joint hearing with our subcommittee as well. Good morning abroad. Im trying to think of a more awkward situation than how we are currently seated here, im sure there is a way, we are so far away from each other on the panel setting. I appreciate everyone here and hope this is an open dialogue. I do hope this shed some important light on the situation where we are with the circus secret service. I like to acknowledge the essential rule the secret Service Bills and its incredible dedication to our country. We appreciate very much the service they provide to our nation and what it has done historically and what it continues to do. However, recent history however, recent history of high profile and immersing profiles in the dhs findings of wrongdoing cant be swept under the rug, as i know secret service is not doing. These investigation reveals unauthorized database searches, protected information began during the House Oversight and government reform hearing in march of this year. In the days days that followed the secret Service Continue to misuse their authority to Access Employment history of the chairman. The oig report 60 incidents of unauthorized access violated the privacy act. As well as internal dhs policies. The report also noted that 18 senior secret secret Service Executives failed to stop the access or inform director clancy of the access. In in fairness, it does reflect that once special agent directed her subordinates to cease accessing the database. The oig did not question those involved if this was the only time that inappropriately in it use the database. In the internet age everyone is concerned about the possibility personal information could be stolen or misuse. Our elite on perforce when agencies are not above the law. Those responsible must face consequences. To me, me, there is a bigger issue. Millions of americans personal data stored across government agencies, the g. I. Report released this year on the federal Information Security showed alarming findings. From 2009 until 2014 the number of Information Security incidences involving personally identifiable information has more than doubled. Geo has stated many agencies had failed to fully implement the hundreds of recommendations previously made to remedy Security Control vulnerabilities. These weaknesses exist with personal data of millions of americans house by the irs, hhs, ba, and other agencies. Just this month, the Social Security ministrations Office Released a security ministrations Office Released a report showing the Social Security administration pay monetary awards to 50 employees were previously discovered to have access personal information of others without authorization. Fifty federal employees who access the personal information of others without authorization, yet incredibly in the end they were rewarded despite raking the law. Another example, the senate the senate Homeland SecurityCommittee Received testimony that a whistleblower was retaliated against by shedding light on inadequate Suicide Prevention at a virginia hospital. They they learned that the employees illegally accessed private records after he brought to light the shameful behavior occurring at the virginia hospital. The question is now, how do we fix this palm so that americans believe that government will protect their information and not use it for other means . Im hopeful today we will take a step or to address this issue, id like to thank the director, and all for your testimony today. I look forward forward to examining the challenges with you. We now recognize from new jersey. Thank you mr. Chairman and Ranking Member for holding todays hearing. Director clancy i want to first extend my condolences in person on the loss of your father. Director and Inspector General roth, mr. Williamson, i think you free testimony. I also want to thank the men and women of the secret service for their diligence and hard work during the recent poppel visit in the 70th anniversary of the United Nations general assembly. As a member of the committee on Homeland Security, and the committee of oversight and government reform i am well aware of the gravity of the secret service mission. Particularly regarding its duty to protect the president along with foreign dignitaries, and to to oversee security at major events, domestically and abroad. Im confident the overwhelming majority of the men and women of the secret service take their job seriously and express the highest greater professionalism, im appalled by the recent reports of operational lapses and poor judgment by senior Level Management. It is obvious he there is a Widespread Lack of consistent leadership and management within the secret service. However, this did not just begin hundred clancys leadership. These issues have been going on a number of years. Of years. Last year, secretary johnson commissioned the independent panel to evaluate the secret service. According to the panels report the secret service needed to undergo or a cultural change and that included leadership that was capable of fostering greater accountability among all staff, modernizing a ministry to functions, including adjusting hours, special agents, and uniform and uniform Division Personnel must work and improving training. After the panel the Inspector General continue to cooperate their findings. It they have issued to memoranda regarding misconduct among Senior Secret Service personnel and to management advisories. The most recent management advisory was issued on october 21, personnel were found sleeping on the job. The Inspector General found staffing and scheduling practices of the secret service contributes to officer fatigue and this could pose the immediate danger to protect these. Instead of addressing the root of the problem of having overworked agents, the secret service considered the findings in isolated incidents. Furthermore, the Inspector General most recent advisory on improper database access of the secret Service Shows the agency has a deeply rooted cultural problem that is not being addressed. The Inspector General found over 40 agents improperly access the personal records of a member of congress through an antiquated database. According to the Inspector General findings, secret Service Leadership including the director and Deputy Director did not recognize the severity of the situation and dismissed that data breach as a rumor. The Inspector General found that instead of dealing with the situation the director of the secret Service Found the what is even far more glaring as the Inspector General found the assistant director of training appointed by director clancy to manage and direct all aspects of personal Career Development and Operational Training for the agency, suggested the information contained in this database be leaked to embarrass the congressman. Mr. Chairman, while this incident is reprehensible, it is not beneficial for us to be here today and isolation. We must have a broader productive discussion about the secret Service Management and culture. Finally, another secret service cannot improve without help from congress. Therefore, i need to know from the director what he needs from us to not only make the adequate changes for staffing, but also the technological advances for personal databases. I also need to know from the director what his plan for the agency are, when he has top Level Management that turns a blind eye instead of addressing issues. With that mr. Chairman, i yielded back the balance of my time. Thank you. We now recognize the ranking minority member of the senate from north carolina. Thank you chairman. Chairman lange and welcome mr. Clancy, mr. Roth, mr. Williamson. I first want to say thank you to the brave men and brave women who serve in the secret service. While i understand the last few months and few years have been marked by highprofile incidents of agency misconduct, i know and you know the majority of our agents work hard and put their life on the line every day to protect the white house, past president s, president ial candidates, and many administrative officials and former dignitaries. I also know firsthand as a former leader of a lawenforcement agency what the bad actions of two, three, or four agents can do to the morale of an entire organization. I know that just looking at the faces behind you mr. Clancy, i know the effect that these high profile discussions have had. I am here in the spirit of lets Work Together. Lets make this certain secret service what it should be, the most trusted lawenforcement agency in america. Lets restore the morale of your agents, lets Work Together in a management collaboration and cooperation to change this dynamic and once again have your agents stand tall, if they tell their friends and neighbors that they work for the secret service. That is a big part of why am here today. To remember and to remind, i think everyone on the status that there are literally of thousands been in women who every day, walk alongside cars willing to sacrifice their life in protection of leaders of this country. Nothing that can be done by one person can take away the bravery of those men and women. So, clearly we have some issues to discuss, there is there is no doubt about that, clearly you have already heard the concerns we have here today. My reason for being here ever been interested in this topic is really to restore the morale and restore the integrity of the secret service so that all the brave men and women, who have done nothing wrong in the secret service, can once again hold their heads high. With that, i yield back the balance of my time. Thank you. The chair now recognizes the ranking minority member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, the gentleman from mississippi for his statement. Thank you very much. I think the oversight and management subcommittee and set it subcommittee and Regulatory Affairs and federal management for holding todays hearing. I also welcome director clancy and Inspector General roth and williamson here today. Im joining my colleagues in already said he for me, and thanking the men and women of the secret service for their work during both the papal visit and the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. The dedication of the agents of the secret service is wonderful, fortunately there to work is overshadowed by the x mosher of problems within the agency. The issues that lie within the secret service existed long before director clancys appointment. However, as head of the agency the congress, the public, public, the officers and agency leads hold him accountable. Prior to director clancys appointment, serious operational lapses and leadership failures led to secretary johnsons appointment of an independent panel to review the secret service. This panel known as a protected Mission Panel had several glaring findings and recommendations. One of these findings is what i realize and articulated through many years of oversight of the secret service, the lawenforcement agency needs to undergo a cultural change that includes leadership that is capable of fostering greater accountability. The panel stated the agency is starved for leadership. Unfortunately, it still seems as if the secret service has yet to be fed. The sense that panel completed its review the office of Inspector General has led investigations into misconduct involving secret Service Supervisors on more than one occasion. Inspector general found that in march, at least