Bush Administration may cut back on port security funding, says AP report

Jeff Berman, Senior Editor -- Logistics Management, 12/4/2007

WASHINGTON—The Bush administration plans to eliminate several homeland security grant programs next year, some of which focus on port security, according to White House budget documents obtained by the Associated Press. The AP reported this on Saturday, December 1.

The AP report said that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has given $23 billion to states and local communities to fight terrorism since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, “but the administration is not convinced that the money has been well spent and thinks the nation’s highest-risk cities have largely satisfied their security needs.”

The White House budget documents indicate that DHS wanted to provide $3.2 billion to help states and cities protect against terrorist attacks in 2009, but the White House said it would ask Congress for less than half—$1.4 billion—according to the AP.

And the AP report said the decision by the White House to eliminate port security and transit grants, among others, would not take effect until September 30, 2008. It added that Congress is unlikely to support these proposed cuts and will decide on these budgetary matters when it develops the 2009 budget next year.

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told the AP that this budget proposal is “dead on arrival,” and she noted that the proposal to end port security funding is a big concern on the West Coast as California’s ports carry more than 47 percent of all goods imported into the United States.

“A terrorist attack at any of California’s ports could shut down our nation’s port system and result in a mind-boggling loss for our nation’s economy,” said Boxer.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman agreed with Boxer’s sentiment, noting in a statement that, if true, these proposed cuts would mark a dangerous and disingenuous u-turn in the Administration’s approach to homeland security and first responders.

Port security funding: American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President Kurt Nagle told Logistics Management that it is “critically important” to not only continue the Port Security Grant program, but to also fully fund it at $400 million annually, which is what was requested in the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush in October 2006.

The Port Security Grant Program assists public ports in funding marine facility security improvements and protects marine facilities from terrorist attacks.

But the actual funding comes in at slightly more than half of the desired $400 million. In February, the White House’s proposed Fiscal Year 2008 budget allocated 420 million to ports-based initiatives, with $201.2 million going to the Port Security Grant Program. The House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate have requested that $400 million is allocated for Port Security Grants, which exceeds 2007’s funding and the President’s request by $190 million.

“Port security is a vital part of our nation’s border and international cargo security and is different than domestic transportation security issues and needs,” said Nagle.

One positive aspect of this news is that it appears the ongoing rollout of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), a biometric-based ID to be used by port workers to ensure that individuals who pose a security threat do not gain access to U.S. ports. The AP report indicated that although up to seven Homeland Security grant programs may be eliminated, one of two new ones would focus on administrative priorities for secure credentials among transportation employees, among other items.

“It is key that TWIC is protected,” said Captain Joseph Ahlstrom, professor of maritime transportation at SUNY Maritime College in Bronx, N.Y. “TWIC is going to be the single biggest event in the maritime industry in the next year, and in all this madness it has been earmarked for protection, which means it is going forward.” TWIC sign-up began at U.S. ports earlier this year.

Regarding the potential funding cuts coming out of Washington, Ahlstrom surmised that Bush may be posturing, adding that port security is critical—especially for ports in California, New York and Florida—and need to remain in the Homeland Security budget.

“A lot of planning, time, and preparation has gone into [port security],” said Ahlstrom. “There have not been any attacks, and it seems to be working. These cuts would represent a huge step backwards.”