The president’s fiscal year (FY) 2018 budget proposal was delivered to Congress requesting $44.1 billion in discretionary budget authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a $2.8 billion, or 6.7 percent, increase over the FY 2017 annualized Continuing Resolution.
The budget funds the administration’s priorities and includes $4.5 billion for DHS to implement Executive Orders that strengthen border security, enhance enforcement of immigration laws, and ensure public safety in communities across the United States.
“The president’s budget prioritizes funding for programs that address our nation’s immediate security needs, and it supports the dedicated men and women of this Department as they execute DHS’s wide-ranging and critical missions,” said Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly.
(Press conference with Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly and Director of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney to discuss the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Request. Courtesy of Norman Brow and YouTube. Posted on 5/2/17)
The budget supports increased staffing for surging apprehension, enforcement, and deportation activities in the full enforcement of our immigration laws.
It provides $2.7 billion for multi-layered border security, including targeted construction of a wall along the highest-risk areas of the southern border as well as increased staffing and the technology and equipment needed by our workforce on the frontlines.
In support of increased enforcement initiatives, the budget provides approximately $1.7 billion for additional law enforcement and support staff, detention beds, transportation and removal costs, and the Alternatives to Detention program.
The budget also provides $354 million to support biometric initiatives to help accurately identify those individuals entering and leaving the United States and supports expansion of the E-Verify program.
To secure our maritime borders and approaches, the budget sustains current funding levels for the U.S. Coast Guard, including $500 million in funding for the Coast Guard’s first Offshore Patrol Cutter.
As exemplified by the world-wide ransomware attack earlier this month, cybersecurity remains a critical mission for DHS and the budget provides $971 million in funding for both ongoing and new cybersecurity initiatives.
The budget also makes key investments in explosives detection research and developments to enhance aviation security.
For more information, see the DHS FY 2018 Budget in Brief.
