Are fourth-quarter spending sprees irresponsible?

The reports this week that the Homeland Security Department planned to spend $8 billion – more than half of its IT budget – by Sept. 30 made me wonder if that’s really the best way to manage your money.

I understand the use or lose it mentality but can you really make good, sound business decisions under such a tight deadline? Doesn’t it sound like the priority is just to spend the money, not spend it wisely?

Some in industry might be saying, who cares? Show me the money.

But what bothers me is that the rush likely will increase the risk of making bad choices and executing sloppy procurements, which in the long run will cost money.

I also have to wonder, if you are running your agency efficiently and you have money leftover at the end of year, then maybe you had too much to start with and you should lose those funds. Wouldn’t that be the responsible thing?

I know DHS isn’t the only agency to do this. The fourth quarter traditionally is a rush of task orders as agencies try to deplete their accounts.

But if you focus on the mission, how do you justify running your agency this way? Or it just fear that your mission will suffer if you lose funds?

Maybe I’m sounding like a curmudgeon but there has to be a better way.

Anyone have any suggestions?