By Calvin Biesecker
The White House yesterday sent Congress a $43.2 billion budget request to Congress for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) FY ’12, an amount nearly a percent higher than DHS is currently operating on under a continuing budget resolution for FY ’11.
Congress still hasn’t approved a federal budget for FY ’11 and House Republicans are proposing $1.1 billion in cuts to the FY ’11 request for DHS as part of the continuing budget resolution for the remainder of the fiscal year. However, based on current levels of spending under an existing continuing resolution, the FY ’12 request for DHS is still higher than the projected $42.6 billion the department expects to have in FY ’11.
Beyond FY ’12, DHS officials said that current projections call for 1 percent annual increases in their budget in FY ’13 and FY ’14.
As for major DHS components, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) would get the biggest increase in spending, at least in percentage terms, with $8.1 billion requested in FY ’12, 6 percent higher than the current fiscal year. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) gets a 3 percent increase in FY ’12 to $11.8 billion while the Coast Guard would garner a $10.3 billion, a 2 percent boost over FY ’11.
Speaking to reporters on a conference call, the DHS officials said that the increases for TSA and CBP reflect an “annualization” of initiatives begun the past two years, pointing to the accelerated deployments of whole body imaging systems at the nation’s airports and the personnel required to man those, as well as new canine teams, expanded deployments of inline explosives detection systems for checked baggage screening and increased deployments of Federal Air Marshals.
In FY ’12 TSA plans to continue purchasing the body imagers, known as Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), albeit at a reduced pace compared to the 500 systems planned to be acquired in FY ’11. TSA plans to buy 275 AIT systems in FY ’12 for $105.2 million, including 535 new personnel to operate them. Of the AIT funding, $77 million is for the actual purchase and installation of systems at airport checkpoints. The agency is currently buying AIT systems from L-3 Communications [LLL] and OSI Systems [OSIS].
TSA’s request also includes $272.7 million for the purchase and installation of explosives detection systems to screen checked baggage, $117.5 million less than in FY ’11. However, for actual EDS purchases, TSA plans to spend $190.5 million in FY ’12 versus $119.2 million in FY ’11.
The FY ’12 funding breakout for EDS includes $166.5 million for 114 medium-speed machines, $13.5 million for 35 reduced-speed machines, and $10.5 million for seven high speed EDS.
TSA is in the midst of a competition for a new generation of EDS systems and plans to award contracts in July. However, testing plans are behind schedule and the contract awards may occur later in FY ’11 than planned.
Other key requests for TSA include $236.9 million to sustain, and add to, the current force of Behavior Detection Officers, and $26.8 million for 12 new VIPR teams
For CBP, the DHS officials said that the increased budget request reflects follow-on costs from FY ’11 as well as program enhancements for the National Targeting Center.
While DHS ended the Secure Border Initiative program, the program line for Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure and Technology (BSFIT) remains with $242 million aimed at completing surveillance technology investments along Arizona’s border with Mexico and $55 million for surveillance technology along the nation’s northern border.
The funding for the southwest border technology includes 36 of the planned Integrated Fixed Towers as well as a mix of other technologies such as Mobile Surveillance Systems, Remote Video Surveillance Systems, thermal imaging devices and other technology.
Another $55 million in BSFIT funding is for northern border technology and pilot projects. In particular, funds will be for proven, stand alone technology that can be deployed immediately.
In budget documents sent to Congress, CBP says it is also launching the third increment of the Northern Border Air and Maritime Domain Awareness program with $40 million enacted in FY ’10. The goal of the program is to fill capability gaps against priority threats in high threat areas, with funding planned for an initial capability to conduct surveillance of low flying aircraft, initiating technology improvements and integration with maritime radar systems, a P-3 aircraft Airborne Early Warning Pilot program, aircraft video data link, and continued integrated sensor evaluation and mission planning at the Selfridge Air National Guard Operational Integration Center.
Another $40 million is being requested for tactical communications systems.
The CBP request also includes about $149.5 million for non-intrusive inspection systems, about $4 million less than FY ’11 funding, with all of the decrease due to a DHS-wide decrease in professional support contracts.
CBP’s budget request also supports 21,370 Border Patrol agents and 21,186 CBP officers at the nation’s ports of entry, essentially locking in personnel increases during the past two years.
Of the Coast Guard’s budget request, $1.4 billion is related to acquisitions, about $114 million less than in FY ’11. Included in the request are funds to construct the fifth National Security Cutter being built by Northrop Grumman [NOC], although no long-lead funding for the sixth vessel is being sought. The request also asks for funding to buy the next six Fast Response Cutters that are being built by Bollinger Shipyards and 40 Response Boat-Mediums.
For air assets, the Coast Guard is seeking $289.9 million, including funding for 2 HC-144 Maritime Patrol Aircraft built by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., and continue upgrades to H-60 and H-65 helicopters and C-130H aircraft.
Another $166.1 million is being sought for C4ISR systems for the Coast Guard within its acquisition budget.
Elsewhere in the DHS budget request, the department is seeking $947.2 million for headquarters operations, an 18 percent increase over FY ’11, including continued construction of its new facility at the former St. Elizabeth’s hospital. DHS is proceeding with plans to construct the Coast Guard headquarters at St. Elizabeth’s but is deferring the consolidation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency due to budget constraints.
Some of the additional DHS management request is to continue bolstering its acquisition workforce.
DHS also appears to be making permanent a nuclear and radiological detection program for New York City and eventually other urban areas of the country. The department is seeking $27 million for Securing the Cities, which officials said the program is transitioning to a “three phased approach that will try to work with New York City to complete the build out we had planned and work on deploying to additional cities.”
The budget request still cuts 13 percent, or $51.3 million, from the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office in FY ’12, funding it at $331.7 million.
The request also requests increased funding for cyber security, with monies broken into a number of buckets, including $233.6 million for federal network protection, $80.9 million for U.S.-Computer Emergency Response Team operations, $40.2 million for federal network security, $61.4 million for critical infrastructure cyber protection and awareness, and more.
The DHS Science and Technology Directorate gets $1.2 billion in the request, a 17 percent increase over FY ’11. Additional funding is being sought for laboratory facilities projects as well as research and development, including a new program for supply chain security with CBP, a technology integration program for the Secret Service and development of new screening systems to detect explosives hidden in air cargo containers.