GovernmentExecutive.com

The Homeland Security Department is requesting about $37.7 billion in total discretionary spending for the next fiscal year, which is about $2.7 billion more than Congress approved for the department's current budget.

But Congress also gave Homeland Security an additional $1.8 billion in emergency supplemental spending for border security during this fiscal year, which means the proposed fiscal 2008 increase is not much more than the total amount the department is spending in fiscal 2007.

Nonetheless, all the department's major agencies would see an increase in discretionary spending. "This budget will ensure that the department has the tools and resources we need to protect the country," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said during a news conference Monday.

Customs and Border Protection, which secures the nation's borders, would get the largest single increase in discretionary money. Funding would increase by about $2.3 billion over current enacted levels to about $8.8 billion.

The budget request would allow the department to hire 3,000 new Border Patrol agents -- bringing the total number of agents to almost 18,000 -- and provide $1 billion to install technology and tactical infrastructure along the nation's borders.

The discretionary funding sought for other major Homeland Security components includes: $7.2 billion for the Coast Guard; $6.4 billion for the Transportation Security Administration; $4.8 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and $3 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The budget also provides $3.2 billion in grants to state and local governments, with $2.2 billion provided through existing grant programs and $1 billion to help state and local governments buy interoperable communications equipment.

The department expects that funding to come from a sale of radio spectrum this fall. The program to administer the funding will be run jointly by the Homeland Security and Commerce departments.

COMMENTS

• I have an idea ,lets take away the take home cars for ICE! that could fund them for quite awhile. After all guys, nobody really responds to anything from home unless they are the Duty Agent.What a scam that is , Hey GAO,,YOU LISTENING???? Clark Kent Posted May 6, 2007 12:38 PM
• No mention of any funding for Customs investigations. Despite the name "Immigration and Customs Enforcement", there is very little Customs enforcement going on at ICE. ICE has become the new INS, with virtually all the funding and priorities going to immigration related program areas, including DRO. Meanwhile, FPS personnel are being cut by 25 %, and legacy Customs investigations (and investigators) are diminishing rapidly. Hundreds of agents have fled since this ill-advised merger in 2003, and more are running for the door daily, after being forced into a job and a mission they want no part of, and have no say in. Just when you think morale can't sink any lower, it does just that. Morale is no longer in the toilet - it's moved down to the drainpipe. Next stop - the sewer? Not that anyone seems to care (other than those directly affected by this mess). Congress, the Administration, the media, and the American people just stand by and continue to do nothing to rectify the situation. Apparently, the saying that people get the government they deserve is all too true. The disgrace continues. GovExec.com reader Posted February 8, 2007 3:53 PM
• So what else is new? It's been that way since the inception of this dysfunctional nightmare. Throw more money and resources at the border and forget about the ongoing mess in the interior. Funds are desperately needed to bolster ongoing investigations, provide for additional agents, resources, and removal of deportable aliens in custody. "Taking Control" of the border entirely amounts to a pipe dream; it won't happen in this lifetime because the events won't allow it. GovExec.com reader Posted February 6, 2007 10:17 AM