DHS Issues FY 2010 Budget Request for CBP (Reflects Decrease for ACE/ITDS)

(In February 2009, the President released an overview of his FY 2010 budget and noted that the full FY 2010 budget would be released in spring 2009.)

FY 2010 Budget Request Contains Less Funding for ACE/ITDS

According to DHS' budget justification document, for FY 2010 the President has requested $268 million for Automated Commercial Environment/International Trade Data System (ACE/ITDS), a decrease of $48.9 million from FY 2009. (See future issue of ITT for additional details on the automation aspects of DHS budget request.)

"Budget in Brief" Provides Highlights of FY 2010 Budget Request for CBP

DHS' budget in brief document highlights its FY 2010 budget request for CBP initiatives:

Import safety and trade enforcement. Resources are requested to hire 12 scientists, 1 paralegal, 34 international trade specialists, 32 auditors, 10 attorneys, 3 import specialists and 11 support personnel to implement the Action Plan on Import Safety developed in response to Executive Order 13439. The increase of personnel will offer an optimal mix of trade activities and resources that allow CBP to meet the growing demand in trade volume, meet CBP's mission of enforcing trade laws and collecting revenue, achieve executive management goals and objectives for the trade mission, align activities with the appropriate skill levels; leverage efficient gains from technology process improvements, and combat risks inherent in priority trade areas.

Analyze and employ information and intelligence. Resources are requested to hire a total of 20 CBP officers and two support positions. The 20 CBP officers would be evenly split between the passenger and cargo facilities of the National Targeting Center (NTC), providing additional operational and analytical support, which is needed in both environments. The increased staffing levels will also ensure that NTC continues to provide CBP personnel with immediate responses to targeting and research inquiries.

Combating southbound firearms and currency smuggling. Resources are requested to provide CBP with an enhanced capability to combat southbound firearms and currency smugglers through additional personnel at and between the ports of entry and along the southern border, as well as continuing to expand and maintain the Licensed Plate Reader (LPR) program.

The combating firearms initiative will add 44 Border Patrol agents, 65 CBP officers (CBPOs) and 16 support staff to expand CBP's capacity to effectively combat firearms and currency smuggling. The LPR program reads license plates as vehicles pass through the ports of entry and automatically queries the TECS database for law enforcement information. This information is then passed to the officers. Placement of LPR along the southern border will be based upon current and developing intelligence.

Data Center migrations. Resources are requested to standardize information technology (IT) resource acquisitions across DHS Components, and streamline maintenance and support contracts, allowing for less complex vendor support and expediting response times in the event of an emergency. Benefits derived from consolidation are enhanced DHS IT security posture, improved information sharing with stakeholders, and increased operational efficiencies over time.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Resources are requested to continue maintaining and operating the WHTI program that supports Departmental efforts to facilitate the efficient movement of people at the land border POEs. WHTI provides a tool to conduct the necessary authentication at the time of crossing and it also accelerates the verification process mandated by law to the extent possible with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology and communications technology.

Northern border technology. Resources are requested to assist CBP in providing situational awareness along the northern border. Funding will also support the design, deployment, and integration of surveillance, sensing platforms, detection technologies and tactical infrastructure requirements. This technology will serve as a force multiplier and increase the probability of successful detection. The systems capability will provide increased detection and a higher probability of successful detection.

Global Advanced Passenger Information (API)/Passenger Name Record (PNR). Resources are requested to continue the API/PNR program in two key security partner countries (including continuing the program for a country previously identified in FY 2008); and to implement the program in one additional key country resulting in the deployment of three countries by the end of FY 2010. Funding will also support start up costs, acquisition of hardware and software, recurring information technology costs, training and travel expenses.

Air and marine personnel. Resources are requested to hire 68 pilots, 20 marine, and 56 support personnel. These positions are necessary for A&M to achieve maximum compliance with strategic goals and objectives and to support Border Patrol agents on the ground. During FY 2010, A&M plans to continue the expansion of its capabilities across the northern and coastal border and place heavy emphasis on the maritime requirements along the southeast/Caribbean borders.

Cyber security. Resources are requested to provide continuous Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) and collateral classified processing capabilities within a "Focused Operations" branch that will provide tactical cyber intelligence of ongoing threats to CBP and DHS while also providing skilled forensics experts capable of staffing a DHS/CBP Digital Media Analysis lab to identify and attribute cyber attacks.

Law enforcement enhanced retirement. Public Law 110-161 established special retirement provisions for CBP officers, similar to the retirement coverage for law enforcement officers and firefighters. The enhanced retirement package became effective on July 6, 2008, covering 19,865 employees. Funding was included in the FY 2008 and FY 2009 appropriations for this purpose. An additional $25 million is requested in FY 2010 as the final increment to fully fund the new retirement coverage. CBP officers face the same risk and challenges as law enforcement personnel in other organizations as they are accountable for ensuring the security of our nation.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 05/08/09 news, 09050835, for previous BP summary announcing DHS' FY 2010 budget request.

See ITT's Online Archives or 03/05/09 news, 09030520, for BP summary of the FY 2010 budget overview.)

DHS budget-in-brief available at http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/budget_bib_fy2010.pdf.

Additional DHS budget documents available at http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/budget/