Former Governor Says Feds May Take Over Some State ITFormer Governor Says Feds May Take Over Some State IT

A prominent former state governor has warned newly appointed Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge that his agency's ability to protect the nation against terrorism could be hampered by the "babel" of disparate communications and IT systems used by state and local governments.

John Engler, who served as governor of Michigan from 1990 to 2002, says he discussed the situation with Ridge Wednesday morning before the Senate's 94-0 confirmation of Ridge as Homeland Security's top official. (Engler was named VP of state and local government operations at services firm EDS earlier this week.) The problem of smoothly exchanging information between the new agency, which officially comes into being Friday, and state and local governments is something Ridge "is very focused on," Engler says.

He may need to be. Engler estimates that no more than a dozen states have standardized IT systems that could easily be linked to computers running at the Department of Homeland Security. Bridging that gap could be crucial to snaring suspected terrorists in instances where, say, a suspect known to Homeland Security is arrested for a driving offense by a state trooper.

"Interoperability needs to be a big part of this effort," says Engler, who's widely credited with making IT integral to state government in Michigan. For instance, the state operates a digital 800-MHz radio-communications network that can be accessed by emergency workers statewide should the need arise.

Engler says problems with data exchange may lead to Homeland Security assuming control of some law-enforcement activities ordinarily handled by the states. "Those at the local and state level better understand that, while Tom Ridge is sensitive to these issues, there will be others in Homeland Security who will say, 'It's easier for us to do it,' and supplant what has been some pretty core functions for state governments," Engler says.

The problem of information sharing between Homeland Security and local "first responders" like police and fire departments was also raised during Ridge's confirmation hearing. Senate Government Affairs Committee chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, told her colleagues that "interoperability has gone from being a buzzword to a matter of life and death."