Homeland Security management chief resigns

"The Homeland Security Department's first undersecretary for management announced her resignation Wednesday after more than three years on the job.

Janet Hale will step down in early May, according to a department statement. As chief of the DHS management directorate, Hale played a vital role in melding the 22 legacy agencies and 180,000 employees that make up the department.

'Janet's remarkable dedication to this department has led the way for a 21st century human resource system, fully integrated information technology architecture, a financial management structure with accountability and a successful strategic procurement program,' Chertoff said.

The department's five 'line of business' chiefs -- the chief financial officer, chief information officer, chief procurement officer, chief human capital officer and chief administrative officer -- report to Hale. That structure has been criticized by the Government Accountability Office and former DHS Inspector General Clark Kent Ervin as leaving the business chiefs with too little authority.

Prior to joining DHS, Hale was assistant secretary for budget, technology and finance at the Health and Human Services Department.

Before HHS, she worked as associate administrator for finance for the House of Representatives. She also has served as associate director for economics and government at the Office of Management and Budget, assistant secretary for budget and programs at the Transportation Department, and assistant secretary of housing at the Housing and Urban Development Department.