Department of Homeland Security's 2012 budget request

Secretary Napolitano Announces Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Request

Release Date: February 14, 2011

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Fact Sheet: Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Request (PDF, 11 pages – 573 KB)

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today unveiled the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) $57.0 billion fiscal year 2012 budget request – prioritizing efforts to protect the Nation from terrorism and other threats while making an unprecedented commitment to fiscal discipline, including the identification of over $800 million in efficiency and administrative savings.

“On a daily basis, the Department of Homeland Security secures U.S. air, land, and sea borders; safeguards lawful trade and travel; secures federal networks; and disrupts and dismantles transnational criminal and terrorist organizations that engage in cross-border criminal activity,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The Department’s FY 2012 budget request allows us to continue to meet these evolving threats and challenges responsibly by prioritizing our essential operational requirements – while reflecting an unprecedented commitment to fiscal discipline that maximizes the effectiveness of every security dollar we receive.”

All DHS Components identified reductions associated with the Efficiency Review initiatives currently underway as well as administrative savings to strengthen mission critical activities across the Department. Savings were accomplished through efficiencies in acquisition, asset and real property management as well as employee vetting/credentialing, hiring/on-boarding and information technology; and administrative savings through reductions to professional services contracts, printing, supplies and materials, travel, and training. The Department also proposes a delay in construction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters at St. Elizabeths as well as the deferral of other office co-locations, and building maintenance and enhancements to preserve essential frontline security operations.

DHS’s FY 2012 budget request is the culmination of a major, first of its kind effort undertaken by the Department to align DHS resources with a comprehensive strategy to meet our Nation’s homeland security needs. Last year, DHS completed the first ever Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, which established a unified, strategic framework for homeland security missions and goals, as well as the Department’s first ever Bottom-Up Review, which aligned DHS’s programmatic activities and organizational structure to better serve those missions and goals. The third and final step of this process is the FY 2012 budget submission, which begins the next phase in strengthening DHS efforts to ensure a safe, secure, and resilient homeland.

FY2012 Budget Priorities:

Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security – Guarding against terrorism was the founding mission of DHS and remains our top priority today. The FY 2012 DHS budget request safeguards the Nation’s transportation systems through a layered detection system including the deployment of additional Transportation Security Officers, Behavioral Detection Officers, canine teams and Advanced Imaging Technology screening machines at domestic airports and continues surge deployments of Federal Air Marshals on both domestic and international flights that began after 12/25/2009. Further, this budget expands watchlist vetting and enhances screening and targeting of international travelers through the Immigration Advisory Program. Additionally, the budget request strengthens transportation security by providing funding for 12 new multi-modal Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response Teams, which conduct random operations throughout the transportation sector to prevent and deter potential terrorist activity. The budget provides funding for Securing the Cities to protect our highest risk cities from radiological or nuclear attack and makes a significant investment in the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, which will provide enhanced diagnostic capabilities to protect our country from foreign animal and emerging diseases. The budget request also expands support for the national network of state and local fusion centers in order to provide state and local law enforcement with the tools they need to address threats in their communities, and it funds critical Secret Service missions and countermeasures.

Securing and Managing Our Borders – DHS secures the Nation’s air, land and sea borders to prevent illegal activity while facilitating lawful travel and trade. This budget request continues the Administration’s historic border security efforts by supporting 21,370 Border Patrol agents and 21,186 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at our ports of entry – both all time highs – who work closely with state, local and federal law enforcement to target illicit networks trafficking in people, drugs, illegal weapons, and money. This budget also funds the continued deployment of proven, effective surveillance technology along the highest trafficked areas of the Southwest Border. The budget request supports investment in technology to address security needs along the Northern Border, and enhances CBP’s ability to interdict dangerous individuals and terrorists traveling to the U.S. from overseas. For our Nation’s maritime borders, the budget includes funding for the Coast Guard’s fifth National Security Cutter and makes historic investments in recapitalization, including six Fast Response Cutters, 40 Response Boats, as well as a sizable investment in the renovation and restoration of shore facilities. The budget also requests resources to ensure that the Coast Guard’s aviation fleet is mission-ready through the acquisition of two Maritime Patrol Aircraft, one HH-60 helicopter, and conversion and sustainment projects of multiple aircraft.

Enforcing and Administering Our Immigration Laws – DHS is focused on smart and effective enforcement of U.S. immigration laws while streamlining and facilitating the legal immigration process. In FY 2012, the Department will continue prioritizing the identification and removal of criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety and targeting employers who knowingly and repeatedly break the law. This budget request enables U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to fund 33,400 detention beds, remove more than 200,000 criminal aliens, and deploy Secure Communities to 96% of all jurisdictions nationally in FY 2012, while promoting adherence to worksite-related laws through criminal prosecutions of egregious employers, Form I-9 inspections, and continued expansion of E-Verify, focusing on monitoring and compliance. The budget also funds immigrant integration efforts, including programs supporting English language and citizenship education and continues detention reform efforts that are improving detainee access to quality health care, reducing the average length of stay, and facilitating access to family members and legal representation.

Safeguarding and Security Cyberspace – DHS has the lead for the Federal Government to secure civilian government computer systems and works with industry and state, local, tribal and territorial governments to secure critical infrastructure and information systems. The FY 2012 budget makes significant investments in cybersecurity to expedite the deployment of EINSTEIN 3 to prevent and detect intrusions on government computer systems; increase federal network security of large and small agencies; and continue to develop a robust cybersecurity workforce to protect against and respond to national cybersecurity threats and hazards. The budget also focuses on combating cyber crimes, targeting large-scale producers and distributors of child pornography and preventing attacks against U.S. critical infrastructure through Financial Crimes Task Forces.

Ensuring Resilience to Disasters – DHS provides the coordinated, comprehensive federal response in the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency while working with federal, state, local, and private sector partners to ensure a swift and effective recovery effort. Highlighting the Department’s commitment to moving resources out of Washington, D.C. and into the hands of state and local first responders who are often best positioned to detect and respond to terrorism, other threats, and natural disasters, the FY 2012 budget sustains federal funding for state and local preparedness grants and provides additional resources to rehire laid off firefighters and retain veteran first responders. Additionally, this budget request funds FEMA’s continued development of catastrophic plans, with a focus on plans for response to biological events and earthquakes.

Providing Essential Support to National and Economic Security – DHS leads and supports many activities that provide essential support to national and economic security. The FY 2012 budget expands the Coast Guard’s operational capacity by funding 50,682 military and civilian positions, including additional personnel focused on strengthening Marine Safety inspections and investigations as well as a new Incident Management Assistance Team, which will be deployed rapidly to support large-scale emergencies. The budget request also continues to support ICE’s and CBP’s enforcement and investigative efforts to protect U.S. intellectual property rights, as well as the Secret Service’s forensic support to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which provides state of the art forensics support for investigations involving missing and exploited children.

The full DHS FY 2012 budget request can be found at www.dhs.gov/xabout/budget/.