By Calvin Biesecker
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is asking Congress for nearly $51 billion in FY ’09, a 7 percent increase from the current budget, with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tallying the largest increases in terms of absolute dollars.
To help pay for the increase, the Bush administration proposes slashing the homeland security grant program by $1.9 billion, with $1.5 billion of the cut coming from programs aimed at state and local agencies. The request for various state and local grants is $2.2 billion, down from $4.1 billion in 2008. The request also seeks $210 million for port security grants, $190,000 less than Congress has authorized. It also requests $6.6 billion for FEMA a $1 billion increase from 2008.
CBP, the largest organization in DHS in terms of spending budget dollars, would get $10.9 billion in FY ’09, an 18 percent increase. A large part of the increase appears destined for the Secure Border Initiative technology (SBInet), which would receive $775 million, a $600 million boost over FY ’08.
SBInet, which is being developed by Boeing [BA], has struggled through a delay since last summer in implementing the first installment of the project. CBP says the FY ’09 request will provide a common operating picture to the southwest border sectors and provide for improved information exchange.
Another large chunk of the increase, $478 million, would go for border security and control between the ports of entry. CBP is seeking $442 million for 2,200 additional Border Patrol agents and 441 more operational and mission support personnel.
CBP wants $140 million, a nearly $107 million increase, to continue the roll out of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which aims to increase security at the borders through better credentialing, documentation and infrastructure.
Another beneficiary of the increased DHS request is Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose visibility has increased as the department has increased its efforts at finding illegal immigrants inside the United States as well as ensuring that illegals caught at the border are detained and then returned to their home countries.
ICE would receive $5.7 billion in FY ’09, a 12 percent increase over this year. Most of the increase appears tied to additional salaries and expenses.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) would get a 4 percent increase in the request to $7.1 billion. The request includes $1.1 billion for explosives detection technology at airports. TSA’s Secure Flight program would also get a $32 million increase to accelerate the transfer of the airline passenger vetting program from the airlines to TSA. Another $30 million increase is being sought to support TSA vetting programs such as crew vetting, secure identification display, area checks, and the Alien Flight Student program.
The Coast Guard, the second largest component of DHS, would receive a 7 percent increase to $9.3 billion (see related story this issue). The beleaguered Deepwater program makes out well in the request with nearly $1 billion sought for surface, air, and related assets.
In other areas of the DHS request, the U.S. VISIT program would receive $390.3 million, a $190.3 million increase over 2008. Nearly $43 million of those funds would go toward the development of a biometric exit solution, which so far has been difficult to come by.
The Science and Technology Directorate would receive $868.8 million, a 5 percent increase, with additional funding aimed at countering suicide bombers and vehicle-borne bombs, to begin operations of the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center and for border and maritime security.
The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office would get a 16 percent increase to $563.8 million, with nearly $68 million for the Advanced Spectroscopic Portal program.