Tech Daily Dose

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said Wednesday that delays and cost overruns plaguing the FBI's computerized case management system, which are detailed in a new FBI inspector general's report, are "alarming."

The report from Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine's office examined the status of the FBI's Sentinel case management system and found "significant additional issues that we believe can affect the full and successful implementation of Sentinel." The report is the seventh in a series of IG reports that have monitored the progress of the $450 million Sentinel system, which was estimated to be completed in December 2009.

"Our review found that as of August 2010, after spending about $405 million of the $451 million budgeted for the Sentinel project, the FBI has delivered only two of Sentinel's four phases to its agents and analysts. Moreover, we believe that the most challenging development work for Sentinel still remains," the IG report found. "In addition, we found that while Sentinel has delivered some improvements to the FBI's case management system, it has not delivered much of what it originally intended."

In a statement, Leahy voiced concern that the latest IG report once again found problems with Sentinel and pledged continued oversight of the system until it is "working as it should be."

"Information exchange is critical to protecting our national security," Leahy said. " These stumbles continue to be alarming."