Final paper. Group 6. PAD 713.-6

A Quantitative Analysis of DHS Federal Anti-Terror Spending:

A Quantitative Analysis of DHS Federal Anti-Terror Spending Brian Crimmins Elwira Zych Bonita Anderson Travis Hilton Jessica Rivera PAD 713 Prof. Adam Wandt Spring 2011

Introduction:

The attacks of September 11, 2001 put terrorism at the forefront of modern acts of aggression and made the United States reassess their institutions of self-defense. Many opportunities to promote the nation's security, which in turn have made an effective means meeting goals to prevent terrorism, developed greatly to keep pace with the changes in the American economy. Today, The Department of Homeland Security, is tasked with the distinct mission to “lead the unified national effort to secure America… prevent and deter terrorist attacks, and protect against and respond to threats and hazards to the Nation” (DHS, 2011b, p. 1). Introduction

Introduction:

This research is a quantitative analysis of DHS anti-terror expenditures that attempts to determine exactly where anti-terror money is spent and how it is used with the focus on: -Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), -The United States Coast Guard (USCG), -The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), -The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), -Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The reason we choose these 5 agencies is because they account for approximately 81% of the total DHS budget in 2012 Introduction

Customs and Border Patrol (CBP):

“CBP is one of the Department of Homeland Security’s largest and most complex components, with a priority mission of keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S” ( http://www.cbp.gov ). Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)

CBP Responsibilities:

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has a dual mission to secure the nation’s borders and to facilitate legitimate trade and travel. CBP also has a responsibility for securing and facilitate trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws. Border Patrol Agents conduct line watch for suspicious activity, track undocumented aircraft and sea vessels, pursue illegal immigrants, and perform traffic and transportation checks, patrol border areas, gather intelligence, and coordinate anti-smuggling raids (CBP.gov, 2008). CBP Responsibilities

CBP Anti-Terror Budget:

Receiving 20% of the total budget, CBP is the largest agency in DHS and receives the most anti-terror funding. Since 2006, CBP’s anti-terror budget has increased substantially, with much of the new funding spent on personnel costs (the number of Border Patrol agents rose by 70% during this period, from 12,349 agents to 21,370 agents (Dicks, 2011)). From 2010 to 2012, the CBP budget for benefits and salaries grew by $1.1 billion. Border Patrol agents were hired to patrol the Canadian and Mexican borders all along the coastal waters that surround Florida and Puerto Rico. The agency’s 2012 budget alone reflects a 70% increase in personnel from 12,349 to 21,370 (Dicks, 2011). Also agents have increased by 18% to more than 21,186 in the Southwest Border port of entry operations. CBP Anti-Terror Budget

The United States Coast Guard (USCG):

“The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the five armed forces of the United States and the only military organization within the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard protects the maritime economy and the environment, defends our maritime borders, and saves those in peril” ( http://www.uscg.mil ). Despite having eleven distinct missions that involve both “homeland security” and “non-homeland security” duties, the USCG allocates a large portion of its resources toward port, waterway, and coastal security. The United States Coast Guard (USCG)

USCG Responsibilities:

The United States Coast Guard’s responsibilities include the duty to defend the nation’s borders, to protect the maritime environment and economy, and to respond to calls for distress. The five “homeland security” missions are ports, waterways, and coastal security; illegal drug interdiction; undocumented migrant interdiction; defense readiness; and other law enforcement. The six “non-homeland security” missions are marine safety, search and rescue, aids-to-navigation, living marine resources, marine environmental protection, and ice operations (USCG, 2010). USCG Responsibilities

USCG Anti-Terror Budget:

Over the past five years, the USCG has consistently budgeted approximately 20% of its resources to the mission of port, waterway, and coastal security (PWCS). The agency experienced overall budgetary growth during fiscal years 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010, and a shortfall during fiscal year 2008. The PWCS budget followed the same trend for anti-terror purposes. For fiscal years 2011 and 2012, the USCG has requested modest increases for both its overall budget and PWCS budget (DHS, 2008; DHS 2010; DHS 2011b). USCG Anti-Terror Budget

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) :

“The Transportation Security Administration protects the Nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce” ( http://www.tsa.gov ). The agency is charged with developing policies and procedures for a single comprehensive national strategy to protect the US airport security. The TSA has expended its anti-terror budget dramatically as to invest in new programs and initiatives aimed at increasing passenger safety and baggage screening. The Transportation Security Administration is recognized nationally for consistently challenging objectives that represent the phenomenon of potential success in the fight against terrorism. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

TSA Responsibilities :

TSA is responsible for developing security programs and implementing more efficient, reliable, integrated, and cost effective terrorist-related screening programs. vetting and physically screening TSA employees, airline employees, and airport workers who have access to secure areas of US airports; managing security risks of the surface transportation systems by establishing clear lines of communication and collaborative working relationships with federal, local and private stakeholders. TSA Responsibilities

TSA Anti-terror Budget:

The TSA’s overall budget has expanded over the past five years, from $5,561 billion in 2006 to $7,649 in 2011. Between 2006 and 2008, TSA included funds for transportation security initiatives as to enhance screening technology (for example, $10 million for Transportation Security Officer (TSO)/Screener Retention, and $60 million to the Travel Document Checkers program). In 2009, TSA’s overall budget was $7.1 billion, constituting a total annual increase of $286.5 in comparison with 2008, and $772.5 million in comparison with 2007. In 2010, the budget authorizes $7.6 billion to implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, and put more attention on all air and sea cargo entering the United States (for example, $50 million was spent on Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams). In 2011, $7,649 billion for projects aimed at promoting equitable, sustainable transportation initiative, TSA Anti-terror Budget

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

FEMA’s mission is to “support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards” (FEMA, 2010). In all, FEMA has about 3,700 permanent employees, and maintains an additional 4,000 workers on standby, to respond to disasters as needed. The goal of FEMA is to improve the effectiveness of emergency response providers at all levels of government The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA Responsibilities:

FEMA issues Grants from the Grant Program Directorate The agency responds to natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes by assisting afflicted families and communities, and also by cording response with local, state, and federal agencies. FEMA is also involved in anti-terror activities by assisting state and local governments to be able to prevent or respond to the threats or incidents of terrorism and other events FEMA Responsibilities

FEMA Anti-terror Budget:

In 2006, FEMA’s budget was $5,365,288 billion. Two years later in 2008, FEMA’s overall budget totaled $21,631,978 billion, due in part to the addition of a supplemental budget of $11,999,000 billion. In 2009 FEMA’s budget totaled $10,932,017 billion. In 2010, the budget decreased to $10,359,468 billion, for a loss of $7,933 billion. In 2011, the budget increased slightly to $10,527,996 billion, representing growth of $168,528 billion. From 2006 to 2011, FEMA’s funding increased by 96%. This increase demonstrates the importance of FEMA’s role in the nation’s anti-terror efforts. FEMA Anti-terror Budget

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the principal investigative arm of DHS and the second largest investigative agency in the federal government ( http://www.ice.gov ). Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

ICE Responsibilities:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement serves to protect the border of the United States and to enforce customs, trade, and immigration laws. The agency detects and arrests smugglers, traffickers, undocumented immigrants, and terrorists attempting to enter the country. ICE also enforces in cross-border disputes relating to financial exploitation, national security, child services, cyber-security, drugs, and illegal arm sales. Finally, unbeknownst to many, ICE responds to natural disasters in order to protect national security threats. ICE Responsibilities

ICE Anti-terror Budget:

ICE invests in anti-terror personnel, equipment and facilities . Anti-terror activities within Immigration and Customs Enforcement are controlled by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division.  By contrast, the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division handles enforcement of immigration and trade violations. The PATRIOT Act allows ICE agents expanded powers to track telephone communications, e-mail accounts, financial information, and other personal data of suspected terrorists The budget for the Enforcement and Removal Operations division increased by 104% from 2006 to 2011 ICE Anti-terror Budget

Comparison of Current Anti-terror budgets (2011) :

Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) – 20% - CBP has the largest percentage in anti-terror funding in order to deter and combat terrorist acts. United States Coast Guard (USCG) – 18% - USCG holds the second largest percentage of anti-terrorism funding that is spent on guarding the borders and implementing new equipment. Transportation and Safety Administration (TSA) – 14% - TSA has the third largest percentage as being responsible for securing America’s transportation system. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – 12% - FEMA’s ranks fourth place in anti-terror funding due to its mission is both to help in natural and man-made disasters. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – 10% - While ICE is the largest investigation unit and the 2 nd largest investigative agency of DHS. Comparison of Current Anti-terror budgets (2011)

Comparison of Current Anti-terror budgets (2011):

DHS, 2011 Comparison of Current Anti-terror budgets (2011)

Conclusion:

Each of the five agencies within the Department of Homeland Security spend anti-terror money differently. The agencies are influenced by their statutory missions, their budgets, the capabilities of their personnel and equipment, and last but not least, their leadership. As a result of these differences, there is no singular policy of anti-terror expenditures within DHS. Some agencies focus on hiring and training personnel, others invest heavily in tools and equipment, and finally others budget for new facilities and headquarters. Conclusion