Homeland Security likely to get full budget request and more

Congressional staffers said Wednesday that they expect the Homeland Security Department's fiscal 2005 budget request to be approved and possibly increased for the second year in a row.

Lawmakers are concerned about some of the department's priorities and management practices, but will likely approve the department's $40.2 billion budget request for next year, two staffers from committees that oversee the department said during a panel discussion at Equity International's Homeland and Global Security Summit in Washington.

"I can tell you from an appropriations standpoint … we will ensure that the president's budget request is met, if not more," said Therese McAuliffe, staff member for the House Appropriations Committee. "I think Congress is in agreement that homeland security is a top priority for the country."

McAuliffe said Congress would most likely continue increasing the department's budget for now, although funding for some programs should stabilize once adequate levels are achieved.

Lawmakers are frustrated, however, by some of Homeland Security's management practices and priorities.

John Cuaderes, senior staff member with the House Government Reform Committee, said panel is concerned that DHS is moving too slowly on developing one overarching financial and procurement system. He said too many of its agencies still act like they are separate entities as opposed to one department.

McAuliffe said her committee is concerned that DHS is delaying completion of vulnerability assessments, providing a list of the nation's critical infrastructure, deploying technology to enhance homeland security, and hiring personnel. She said appropriators could insert language into the budget to address those concerns.

McAuliffe said appropriators do not yet understand why the department has initiated a hiring freeze at the bureaus of Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Citizenship and Immigration Services.

"We definitely don't understand this as a cash flow issue," she said. "We are trying to get to the root of the problem."

According to McAuliffe, Appropriations Committee members have "a huge level of frustration" with regard to getting basic information from the department. She worried the hiring freeze might make it more difficult to get information.

Other areas of concern for lawmakers include the department's plan to apply a risk-based funding formula for state and local governments and implementation of the 2002 Safety Act, which exempts private companies from some liabilities associated with anti-terrorism equipment and efforts.

DHS wants to alter the funding formula for state and local governments and first responders so grants are distributed based on an area's threats, critical infrastructure and population. Lawmakers would most likely seek a compromise with the department.

"Doing away with a guaranteed minimum amount of funding is not the way to go at this stage of the game," McAuliffe said. She added that her committee favors giving grants to regions, as opposed to individual cities, to ensure coordination across jurisdictions.

Cuaderes said his committee is "very frustrated" at how DHS has implemented the Safety Act: "We don't think they're taking it as seriously as we want them to take it," he said.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Wednesday the department's budget request is "absolutely" adequate, adding that he believes Congress would approve the full amount.