The Homeland Security Department's portal for sharing sensitive but unclassified information with state and local partners continues to need improvement, according to the Government Accountability Office.

In a letter released publically June 21 and addressed to Rep. John Mica, (R-Fla.), the senior Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the GAO says that the Homeland Security Information Network continues to want as a trusted information source.

Specifically, in a letter addressing the security of intermodal transportation facilities, the GAO says that "officials from 11 of 17 mass transit and passenger rail systems who discussed HSIN told us that they did not use it for guidance on available security technologies when considering security technology investments."

HSIN has long been the subject of criticism. An October 2008 DHS inspector general report found that the deparment "has not defined and communicated its homeland security information sharing process to HSIN stakeholders. Without this guidance, HSIN users do not know what information they should share or, once provided, what DHS does with the information."

In late 2009, a DHS official told GAO officials that the department is attempting to boost HSIN participation by asking state and local account holders what they'd like in terms of intelligence and content available through the portal.

Mica used the report as an opportunity to issue another call for reorganization of the Transportation Security Administration. "This report is further proof that this is an agency in need of complete reform," he said in a press statement.

Meanwhile, John Pistole, the administration's third nominee as TSA head and currently deputy director of the FBI, moved a step closer to confirmation June 17 when the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee voted their approval of him. He must also gain approbation from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee before facing a vote by the full Senate. Pistole testified before that committee June 17.

For more:
- read the GAO letter 10-435R (.pdf)
- go to the October 2008 DHS OIG report on HISN, OIG-09-07 (.pdf)
- see the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation statement on Pistole's nomination, and then see the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs statement on their Pistole hearing
- see the Mica press statement

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