House Appropriations Approves CBP Staffing Increase in DHS Funding Bill
The House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2014 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill May 22, proposing an increase of $35 million over the President’s budget request, it said. The move would allow CBP to hire 1,600 additional officers, “as requested, in part, in the White House fiscal year 2014 budget,” said the National Treasury Employees Union.
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“This bill demonstrates how we can fund vital security programs while also reducing discretionary spending overall,” said Homeland Security Subcommittee chairman John Carter, R-Texas. “We have prioritized essential security programs, including front-line operations, while streamlining other areas to get the most out of each and every taxpayer dollar."
“This move by the House Appropriations Committee is welcome recognition of the reality that CBP staffing has been and remains inadequate for its critical homeland security mission,” said NTEU President Colleen Kelley (here). Despite applauding approval of increased CBP staffing in the budget, the NTEU release expressed disappointment at the committee’s purported rejection of an amendment that would have ended sequestration.
According to the NTEU, CBP has also submitted to both House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders a proposed reprogramming of funds that would allow it to avoid furloughs of its employees.