• Political Interference and Bias: As a presidential appointee, the office risks undue influence from Washington, leading to selective prosecutions or ethical lapses (e.g., misleading statements in investigations), which erode impartiality and invite lawsuits— a high-risk issue given the need for uniform justice application.
• Resource and Allocation Constraints: Limited staffing (e.g., only 38 AUSAs for 2.5 million people) and flawed budgeting processes can delay cases or overburden teams, heightening risks in fast-moving threats like opioids or cyber attacks in St. Joseph County.
• Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities: Outdated systems expose sensitive case data to hacks, as seen in DOJ-wide weaknesses in access controls and patch management, potentially compromising ongoing St. Joseph investigations and victim information.
• Coordination Gaps with Partners: Differing protocols with local entities can hinder collaboration, amplifying risks in joint operations and leading to inefficiencies or overlooked vulnerabilities in community-specific issues like supply chain threats.