WASHINGTON, March 24 (UPI) -- Bush administration officials gave conflicting accounts to Senate panel Tuesday about the progress of much needed upgrades to the FBI's computer systems.
FBI Director Robert Mueller told the Senate Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Subcommittee parts of the effort to upgrade the agency's outmoded computer systems are on track for completion in April.
However, at the same hearing, Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine said interviews with senior FBI officials have lead him to believe the deadline remains open due to an ambitious implementation schedule that does not include any down time.
Implementation of the system in question, dubbed Trilogy, has been plagued with problems since Congress first appropriated funds for it in 2000 at cost of $379.8 million.
The project deadline was moved up a year following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and funding was increased by $78 million, but that deadline has repeatedly slipped in the ensuing years and the program is now $2 million over budget.
