House passes DHS acquisition reform

House legislation would increase oversight of large projects and give the department's CIO greater power.

The House has passed a bill to reform the acquisition process at the Homeland Security Department including a requirement to report all cost overruns on major projects to Congress.

Known as the DHS Acquisition Accountability and Efficiency Act, the gives new acquisition powers to the department CIO, and creates an acquisition review board and greater accountability requirements for major projects, according to a report by FederalTimes.com.

Bill sponsor Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., told Federal Times that bill would increase accountability, discipline and transparency at DHS.