CBP Ramps up Surveillance Tech without Much-Needed IT Personnel
•February 17, 2026
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Why It Matters
Without sufficient IT staff, CBP cannot fully leverage its surveillance investments, jeopardizing border security, while HHS’s acting‑only leadership reflects systemic talent gaps that could impair federal digital initiatives.
Key Takeaways
- •CBP's surveillance tech deployments surged despite IT staffing shortfall.
- •GAO reports info system specialist vacancy rate below target for five years.
- •Low pay, background checks, and cost of living drive IT attrition.
- •Cold‑weather sensors and weak communications hinder border data access.
- •HHS acting IT leadership turnover leaves seven of ten roles vacant.
Summary
The Daily Scoop highlighted a growing gap at U.S. Customs and Border Protection: while surveillance technology along the northern border has expanded dramatically over the past five years, the agency’s pool of information‑system specialists has stagnated, and the Department of Health and Human Services is wrestling with a wave of acting IT appointments.
A two‑year GAO audit, completed in February 2026, found the staffing rate for IT specialists has been below the agency’s target for half a decade and has widened since 2023. Officials cite low pay, lengthy background investigations, high cost‑of‑living, and limited career advancement as primary drivers of attrition. Meanwhile, many of the deployed sensors were not engineered for sub‑zero conditions, and weak communications infrastructure hampers data transmission and inter‑agency sharing.
A senior Border Patrol workforce planner warned that specialists are expected to leave for better opportunities, underscoring the absence of a recruitment strategy. GAO noted agents often cannot receive or access sensor data during frozen periods. In the HHS arena, acting deputy CIO David Hong and acting deputy chief AI officer Arman Chararma have stepped into roles previously held by Kevin Duval, leaving seven of ten senior CIO positions filled by acting officials.
The staffing shortfall threatens the effectiveness of border surveillance, potentially creating blind spots that could be exploited by smugglers. It also signals a broader federal challenge: without a coherent talent pipeline, agencies risk underutilizing costly technology investments, prompting lawmakers and agency leaders to prioritize recruitment reforms and budget allocations for IT personnel.
Original Description
Customs and Border Protection has increased deployments of surveillance technology along the northern border over the past five years despite sluggish hiring levels of IT personnel needed to monitor the tech, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office published Thursday. The staffing rate for information systems specialists has remained below target levels for half a decade but the gap has widened since 2023. CBP officials pointed to low pay, a lengthy background investigation process, a limited local applicant pool, high cost of living and minimal career advancement opportunities as drivers of attrition and the inability to fill open positions.
The Department of Health and Human Services made several changes to its IT leadership recently, including the addition of a new acting deputy chief information officer and acting deputy chief AI officer. A webpage listing leadership within the Office of the Chief Information Officer currently has David Hong as acting deputy CIO and Arman Sharma as acting deputy chief AI officer. Meanwhile, Kevin Duvall, who was previously deputy CIO and acting deputy CAIO, is no longer on the page. The apparent change-up comes amid reports of a personnel shake-up at the health agency.
Articles Mentioned
• CBP ramps up surveillance tech without much-needed IT personnel, GAO says via FedScoop: https://fedscoop.com/customs-border-protection-surveillance-it-workforce-gao/
• HHS reports changes in deputy IT, artificial intelligence leadership via FedScoop: https://fedscoop.com/hhs-reports-changes-deputy-it-ai-leadership/
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