Administration Shortchanges States' Homeland Security Efforts Rectifying First Responder Funding Shortfalls Creates Other Problems
Washington, DC — Washington - Today President Bush will submit a $74.7 billion Fiscal Year 2003 supplemental budget request to Congress to cover defense and homeland security costs related to the war in Iraq. It includes a total of $4.25 billion for homeland security, but only $500 million for states’ contributions to Operation Liberty Shield, the Department of Homeland Security’s initiative designed to respond to the heightened terror threat.
Because the Department of Homeland Security elevated the national threat level on March 17th, state and local governments are required to put additional security measures in place. However, only $500 million, less than 1% of the total supplemental, are allocated to state and local governments to cover increased personnel and infrastructure costs that result from these additional security measures. In contrast, critical Federal efforts related to Operation Liberty Shield will receive $1.5 billion for enhanced border and transportation costs.
Additionally, the supplemental will provide a $1.5 billion to states to remedy previously created shortfalls for ongoing training needs of First Responders. “The President is behind the eight ball,” says Kate Käufer, an analyst at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. “Because he shortchanged First Responders in the past, he is using this supplemental to provide long overdue resources,” she added, “Consequently, there are few funds remaining to cover the states’ portion of Operation Liberty Shield.”
Local governments have been pressuring the Administration to provide additional funding for First Responders, who are usually the first on the scene of a catastrophic attack. However, contrary to Administration rhetoric, First Responders only received $1.2 billion in FY 2003. While the FY03 supplemental makes up for these shortfalls, it does little to address the new bills that states are incurring as a result of the orange threat level. The heightened threat level is costing New York City alone an extra $5 million per week.
“We shouldn’t be robbing Peter to pay Paul,” says Kaufer. “Until the Administration allocates resources with more foresight, states’ homeland security efforts will remain underfunded.”