The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on March 4 said it is seeking $38.2 billion in net discretionary funding in FY ’15 from Congress, including rotary aircraft for the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The Coast Guard is seeking $68 million for air assets in the request, with the funds distributed between spare parts and maintenance for the HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft, continued activities of the new C-27J acquisition program office, modernization and sustainment of the HH-65 search and rescue helicopters, including conversion to the MH-65 Short Range Recovery helicopters, and parts and maintenance for the C-130J long-range surveillance aircraft.
The Coast Guard acquisition account would see a nearly $300 million reduction in FY ’15 to $1.1 billion from $1.4 billion in FY ’14. The overall request for the Coast Guard is $9.8 billion, $400 million less than in FY ’14.
The funding request for CBP includes a $43.7 million increase for two more King Air-350CER Multi-Role Enforcement Aircraft with multi-mode radar that are integrated by Sierra Nevada Corp. CBP is seeking $708.7 million overall for its Air and Marine Office and related activities, a reduction of $96.4 million.
Proposed funding for CBP in FY ’15 is $12.8 billion, a $400 million increase over the current year.