Homeland Security budget consolidates programs, creates more offices

The Homeland Security Department plans to consolidate several major programs and grants in fiscal 2006 while creating several offices to improve strategic planning and deter a domestic nuclear attack, according to the department's proposed budget released Monday.

While DHS mainly avoided the budget ax that aims to reduce funding for many other domestic spending programs, critics say the budget underfunds some critical homeland security efforts, such as border security and grants for local municipalities.

The Bush administration is requesting $41.1 billion for DHS in fiscal 2006, a 7 percent increase over the fiscal 2005 level. About $27 billion of the budget is discretionary spending.

The budget proposes to consolidate various homeland security screening and credentialing programs into a new Office of Screening Coordination and Operations with a budget of $840 million. The office would be responsible for several high-profile and expensive programs, such as the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology system, the department's Secure Flight effort and the Transportation Worker Identification Credentialing program.

Aviation security would get about $5 billion in fiscal 2006, about $400 million more than it received in fiscal 2005. The administration, however, wants to increase fees paid by passengers to fly. According to the budget, the fee on a typical one-leg ticket would increase from $2.50 to $5.50. For passengers traveling multiple legs on a one-way trip, the fee would increase from $5.00 to $8.00. The department says the fees will almost cover the full cost of aviation screening operations.

The department wants to establish a Targeted Infrastructure Protection program to dole out grants for port, rail and surface transportation security. The program would provide $600 million in grants during fiscal 2006.

The budget would alter the formula for grant funding to state and local municipalities. Under the budget, funding would be dispersed based on risks and vulnerabilities, as opposed to population levels.

Overall, the budget sets aside $3.6 billion to train and equip first responders, such as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Money dedicated specifically for surface transportation security, however, would decline to $32 million under the budget, which is $83 million less than in fiscal 2005.

The budget also proposes to create a Domestic Nuclear Detection Office with a budget of $227 million. The office will develop, acquire and support domestic efforts to detect and report attempts to import, assemble or transport nuclear explosive devices, fissile material, or radiological material intended for illegal use.

The department also plans to create a new position of manager for policy, planning and international affairs. The budget leaves it up to the DHS secretary and Congress to decide if the position should be at the assistant secretary or undersecretary level.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Christopher Cox, R-Calif, said the budget "represents good progress," but leaves some efforts "badly underfunded." For example, Congress authorized the addition of 2,000 Border Patrol agents in 2006, but the proposed budget only funds 210 new positions.

Cox also said the budget falls short in funding hundreds of additional immigration enforcement investigators, thousands of more bed spaces in detention facilities and increases in funding to screen those traveling to the U.S. from overseas.

"The Committee on Homeland Security will press for savings in less critical programs of DHS in order to fund the most critical counterterrorism priorities, including specifically the prevention of nuclear and biological attack, border and port security, and risk-based first responder funding," Cox said.