Study shows homeland spending boosts other programs

Homeland security spending has doubled since before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, but a large portion of the funds are for "non-homeland security activities," according to a new Congressional Budget Office study.

While homeland security funding totaled $41 billion in fiscal 2004, CBO said in a report issued Friday that $13 billion went for activities that fell outside the administration's definition of homeland security. Those activities include disaster relief, immigration services other than enforcement, and marine safety and navigation support services by the Coast Guard.

Before Sept. 11, 2001, homeland security funding totaled about $17 billion, but that total increased to $33 billion in fiscal 2002 and $43 billion in fiscal 2003 before dropping to $41 billion in fiscal 2004. It would rise to $47 billion under President Bush's fiscal 2005 budget proposal.

Within the $41 billion total for fiscal 2004, about $17 billion was budgeted for agencies outside the Homeland Security Department. That money was directed to the Defense Department for research and development and security at military facilities, disease and vaccine research at HHS and to the Justice Department for FBI and law enforcement funding. CBO found that the largest percentage increases in homeland security funds have been within HHS, including $2 billion in additional funds for National Institutes of Health research in detecting and combating biological attacks. The Centers for Disease Control have received an additional $1 billion for shoring up hospital security.

Under Bush's fiscal 2005 funding request, the Project Bioshield program to develop vaccines for biological attacks would see a $1.6 billion increase over the previous fiscal year and $1 billion in additional funds would go toward border and transportation security. Most of that $1 billion would be directed to the Transportation Security Administration to be spent on explosive detection systems and security training. The FBI would see a $400 million increase for counterterrorism activities.

While homeland security funds would increase by about 14 percent over current levels, Bush's budget also includes cuts, including a $400 million decrease in first-responder funds, although the CBO report notes about $3.5 billion remains in unexpended funds for first responders. Those funds have been obligated to states, which the report says have been distributed slowly because of changes in administrative procedures, a time-consuming grant approval process and efforts to negotiate better prices on bulk purchases of equipment. House Homeland Security Chairman Cox has introduced legislation, approved by his panel 37-0 in March, that aims to streamline the grant approval process and direct funds to areas cited as high risk for terrorist attacks. Last week, Cox released a committee report that found 85 percent of first responder grants appropriated in fiscal 2003 had not been spent.