Week in Review
The difference a year can make
One year ago, Hurricane Katrina was leaving a lasting mark on the Gulf Coast. The storm also left a lasting mark on government -- federal, state and local -- and on the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
An undercurrent of anger still exists along the Gulf Coast. Just this week, Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) told the Biloxi Sun Herald, "FEMA is a four-letter, dirty word." Some people have called for FEMA to be taken out from under DHS' umbrella, and others have debated what role the government can -- or should -- play during natural disasters.
Katrina has also had an impact on the government's procurement system.
Again, just last week, House Democrats released a study showing that the government awarded 70 percent of Katrina relief contracts without full competition, which they said wasted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.
Some of the post-Katrina debate has been more political than real. Critics complain about the lack of competition but then chastise agencies for taking too long to get aid to citizens.
Government officials mostly look back at Katrina with one eye on the good work that got done, but also with a wary eye on the problems that still exist.
Other noteworthy news
A roundup of the week's news, complete with links to the original stories, can be found on FCW.com Download's Week in Review.
NEXT STORY: House Democrats on Katrina contracting