For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Agency Financial Report and I am pleased to announce that for a fifth consecutive year, DHS has earned a clean audit opinion on our financial statements. Our report outlines the Department’s financial information relative to our critical mission of protecting the Homeland while remaining good stewards of taxpayer dollars. This clean opinion demonstrates our steadfast transparency and accountability to the American public.

The report also highlights the significant progress the Department has made in strengthening and maturing our internal controls over financial reporting. A strong internal control system means the financial information we provide and use is more accurate and reliable. Led by Acting Chief Financial Officer Stacy Marcott, our other Management Line of Business chiefs and leadership throughout DHS, we have improved our processes and controls to account for and report the Department’s property—land, buildings, aircraft, vessels and equipment. In FY 2017, DHS made meaningful progress on our long‑standing property internal control material weakness, advancing to a less severe assessment - a significant deficiency. The improvement in property controls is a direct result of the dedicated efforts by hardworking professionals across all of our components.

Our teamwork and shared commitment across the entire department, in multiple business areas such as finance, IT, procurement, human capital, and asset management, reflects the unified prioritization and collaboration that underpins our Department’s success. I am proud of this accomplishment, and all of the great work by the men and women of DHS who support our homeland security mission every day.

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