GAO report faults Homeland Security on plan for biological-attack sensors

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has rushed to acquire a new, multibillion-dollar version of the BioWatch system for detecting biological attacks without establishing whether it was needed or would work, according to a new report by a nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress.

The report by the Government Accountability Office says Homeland Security should re-evaluate the need for the overhaul while determining whether it makes financial sense. The department has spent more than $150 million developing the new generation of Government Accountability Office .

The report comes as Homeland Security officials try to maintain support in Congress for both BioWatch and the long-pursued makeover, called Generation 3. The report's findings - which fix blame on both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations - are scheduled to be discussed Thursday during a hearing by two House subcommittees.

The Los Angeles Times obtained a draft of the report, which has yet to be publicly released.

Homeland Security has failed to follow "good acquisition practices," the report