Homeland Security Requests $57 Billion, Claims $800 Million In Savings

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano unveiled the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) $57.0 billion fiscal year 2012 budget request Monday, prioritizing efforts to protect the Nation from terrorism and other threats while making what she says is an unprecedented commitment to fiscal discipline, including the identification of over $800 million in efficiency and administrative savings.

Secretary Napolitano

“On a daily basis, the Department of Homeland Security secures U.S. air, land, and sea borders; safeguards lawful trade and travel; secures federal networks; and disrupts and dismantles transnational criminal and terrorist organizations that engage in cross-border criminal activity,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The Department’s FY 2012 budget request allows us to continue to meet these evolving threats and challenges responsibly by prioritizing our essential operational requirements – while reflecting an unprecedented commitment to fiscal discipline that maximizes the effectiveness of every security dollar we receive.”

The secretary says that all DHS Components identified reductions associated with the Efficiency Review initiatives currently underway as well as administrative savings to strengthen mission critical activities across the Department. Savings were accomplished through efficiencies in acquisition, asset and real property management as well as employee vetting/credentialing, hiring/on-boarding and information technology; and administrative savings through reductions to professional services contracts, printing, supplies and materials, travel, and training. The Department also proposes a delay in construction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters at St. Elizabeths as well as the deferral of other office co-locations, and building maintenance and enhancements to preserve essential frontline security operations.

Napolitano says the department's FY 2012 budget request is the culmination of a major, first of its kind effort undertaken by the Department to align DHS resources with a comprehensive strategy to meet our Nation’s homeland security needs. Last year, DHS completed the first ever Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, which established a unified, strategic framework for homeland security missions and goals, as well as the Department’s first ever Bottom-Up Review, which aligned DHS’s programmatic activities and organizational structure to better serve those missions and goals. The third and final step of this process is the FY 2012 budget submission, which begins the next phase in strengthening DHS efforts to ensure a safe, secure, and resilient homeland.

DHS says guarding against terrorism was the founding mission of the agency, and that remains its top priority. Of particular interest to the aviation community is funding for a layered detection system including the deployment of additional Transportation Security Officers, Behavioral Detection Officers, canine teams and Advanced Imaging Technology screening machines at domestic airports and continues surge deployments of Federal Air Marshals on both domestic and international flights that began after 12/25/2009.  Further, Napolitano says the budget expands watchlist vetting and enhances screening and targeting of international travelers through the Immigration Advisory Program.  Additionally, the budget request strengthens transportation security by providing funding for 12 new multi-modal Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response Teams, which conduct random operations throughout the transportation sector to prevent and deter potential terrorist activity.

FMI: www.dhs.gov