The high cost of homeland security

Nov. 8, 2004
The high cost of homeland security On Oct. 18, President Bush signed the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2005, providing $28.9 billion

The high cost of homeland security

On Oct. 18, President Bush signed the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2005, providing $28.9 billion in net discretionary spending for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This was a 6.6% ($1.8 billion) increase over the prior year.

DHS will also receive funding from what it describes as "mandatory and fee-funded programs," which will bring the total available funds to $40.7 billion. Arguably, the $11.8 billion difference between available funds and budget allocation is the cost that will be funded by the private sector.

Here's how some of the appropriations break down:

• Funding for the Container Security Initiative (CSI) has increased by $25 million over the current $101 million.

• The United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (USVISIT) will receive $340 million in 2005, up $12 million over fiscal 2004.

• Aerial surveillance and sensor technology includes $64.2 million for U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enhance land-based detection and monitoring of movement between ports, $28 million for increased patrol flight hours and $12.5 million for long-range radar operations.

• A further $80 million is allocated for the next generation of radiation detection monitors for ports.

• The Act increases funding for CBP targeting systems by $20.6 million for staffing and technology.

• The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) will receive an increase of $15.2 million in the appropriation.

• The U.S. Coast Guard's budget will increase 9% to $6.3 billion in 2005, including over $100 million to support implementation of the Maritime Transportation Security Act.

Project BioShield will receive $2.5 billion in funding for development and prepurchase of necessary medical countermeasures against weapons of mass destruction and improved bio-surveillance.

• $894 million was appropriated for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP) to enhance capabilities to receive intelligence and information from an expanded set of sources.

• $5.1 billion is included for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for aviation security, including aviation security fees.

• Explosive detection systems are part of the $475 million for baggage screening.

• Air cargo security is covered by a $115 million allocation to continue research and deployment of screening technology and to increase air cargo inspectors.

• The Federal Air Marshal Service has been moved to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and will receive $663 million.

• The DHS Science and Technology directorate will receive $61 million to accelerate development of effective technologies to counter the threat of portable anti-aircraft missiles.

• State and local assistance programs will receive $4 billion in funding.

• Immigration security and enforcement's funding will increase by $179 million.

• $160 million in total resources have been allocated to reduce the immigration backlog.

• The Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate will get $3.1 billion.

• The National Incident Management System (NIMS) will receive $15 million

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