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CBP Ramps up Surveillance Tech without Much-Needed IT Personnel

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.