Evaluation of the Department of Homeland Security's Budgeting and Cumulative Report - Research Paper Example

Evaluation of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Budgeting and Cumulative Report Introduction The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was initiated by the President George W. Bush to prevent domestic terrorist attacks, reduce the vulnerability of the country to terrorism, and help in mitigating the damages from such attacks, as well as facilitating recovery. The DHS is expected to provide federal recovery efforts and response in the event of natural disasters and/or other large scale emergencies (Daniels and Epstein, 2012). Additionally, it provides primary responsibilities to ensure that emergency responses are made in a professional way and that the state is prepared for such situations. The DHS secures the federal states against all threats and in its actions it has five main missions that include preventing terrorism and enhancing security, enforcing and administering immigration, securing and managing the boarders of the United States, ensuring resilience to disasters, and safeguarding and securing cyberspace. The Department of Homeland Security has seven operational components that lead other departments in protecting the nation. The other components of the DHS provide analysis, resources, policy development, equipment, and support in ensuring that all other front organizations have all required resources and tools to accomplish the missions of the DHS. The DHS is headed by a secretary with a deputy. With same authority and responsibilities is the chief of staff who is reported to by executive secretariat and military advisor. The holder of these offices forms the executive steering committee. This committee was established during FY 2012 to implement the integrated Investment Life Cycle Management (IILCM) as a translational initiative towards integrating budget formulation as well as execution of the strategies that drives the budget’s strategies. Budget Overview The department of homeland security usually provides annual performance report for each fiscal year. The year 2012 to 2014 annual performance report presents the measure of performance and applicable results (APR) for the department for the FY 2012. It should be noted that the FY 2012 can only be understood in respect to the performance that targeted FY 2013 and FY 2014 (Department of Homeland Security, 2013). The information provided by these FYs provides the priority goals for the organization as it prepares its budget. The APR of the FY 2012 to 2014 was submitted as part of FY 2014 of DHS congressional budget justification. Additionally, the budget justification is usually intended towards meeting the government performance and result act (GPRA). It is worth noting that the GPRA modernization act of the year 2010 required the department to publish their performance report as well as annual performance plan to enable understand and approval of such budgets. Budgeting Assessment The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) research portfolio has a significant increase in FY 2012 as compared to the enacted budget FY 2010 fiscal year. In the year FY 2010, requested $1.05 billion and the same increased by 18.8 per cent of FY 2012 that translated to $167 million. From the same budget, nearly $109 million was used for the transformational research and development (R&D) programs. From the same budget, domestic nuclear detection office (DNDO) was transferred science and technology Directorate (Department of Homeland Security, 2012). The FY 2012 budget recognized as the technical division of nuclear and radiology. Nonetheless, the R & D funding remained in the DNDO. This FY 2012 fund transfer lead to an increase in the science technology research and development funding; the funding of directorate of the science and technology increased by 20.2 percent that reflected an increase of $173 million. The other point that was increased is the cyber security research as well as the increase of the construction of the nation Agro and Bio defense facilities specifically in Manhattan, Kansas. Despite the increase of the construction funds, the S & T directorate’s budget was expected to increase by only 2.7 percent for R&D. The funding of the university programs experienced a 44 percent drop that indicated by values from $65.6 million in 2010 (FY) to $36.6 million in the year 2012 (FY). Other cost that must be reduced includes that of the national transportation security center of Excellence as well as minority severing institution programs. It is also worth noting that the FY 2012 budget did cut nearly $1.9 million from fellowship and scholarship funding. Analysis of Budgeting Plans and Actual Expenditures The planning of the budget usually requires proper performance management that is relevant to each stage of the PPBE process within the department. PPBE is a usual annual process that incorporates the long term planning severs and decisions as the annual budget developing basis. It is a budget submission that has indicates the department’s annual spending profile as figured in the FYHSP report. Moreover, the planning goals, mission, goal setting, and the scope of risk assessment are usually conducted to prioritize and determine the necessary capacities to meet as per the department’s current performance (Department of Homeland Security, 2013). Additionally, the budget estimates were developed to ensure effective and efficient funding towards meeting the set priorities as well as the planned levels towards integrating the performance of the department. From the statics, the actual budget for the FY 2012 was estimated at $49.9 billion and it was broken as follows: Program Funding (in billions) Departmental Operations $1.3 Office of the Inspector General $0.1 Citizenship and Immigration Services $0.4 Secret Service $1.7 Immigration and Customs Enforcement $5.5 Customs and Border Protection $10.4 Transportation Security Administration $5.1 Federal Law Enforcement Training Center $0.3 National Protection and Programs Directorate $1.4 Coast Guard $8.7 Federal Emergency Management Agency $6.8 Science and Technology Directorate $1.0 Domestic Nuclear Detection Office $0.4 Mandatory Spending $0.6 Total $46.9 Implications of Foreign Policy It should be noted that the department of homeland security was also initiated to help in preventing unlawful immigration. According this goal, the department reduces the conditions that might have been encouraging illegal immigration; however, since identifications of such persons might be difficult, the department of the homeland security increased it budget to help it execute foreign policies effectively and conveniently and this amount usually falls under the Immigration and Customs Enforcement $5.5 (Department of Homeland Security, 2011). Budget Request and Recommendations The congressional appropriators are still facing general challenges in allocating funds especially to the DHS compared to other agencies. Additionally, they are confused on what section to locate to the DHS and what proposal to allocate to R&D. to solve this problem, they should know how to balance between basic funding and applied research. In addition, should fund project on long term rather than short term as is the current case. Appendix Interview Forms Q. Who assures for the accountability and integrity of the fiscal management of the department of homeland security? A. according to the office of the chief financial officer, the office of chief financial officer is the office that is responsible for the accountability and integrity of the management of the department of the homeland security especially to its financial matters. References Daniels, L. J. and Epstein, G. L. (2012). American Association for the Advancement of Science: FY 2012 Budget highlights. Retrieved June 10, 2013, from http://www.aaas.org/spp/rd/rdreport2012/12pch11.pdf Department of Homeland Security. (2011). U.S. Department of Homeland Security Annual Performance Report Fiscal Years 2011 – 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013, from http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/mgmt/cfo_apr_fy2011_appb.pdf Department of Homeland Security. (2012). U.S. Department of Homeland Security Annual Performance Report Fiscal Years 2012 – 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2013, from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/MGMT/DHS-%20Annual%20Performance%20Report%20and%20Congressional-Budget-Justification-FY2014.pdf Department of Homeland Security. (2013). Appendix -- Homeland Security Mission Funding by Agency and Budget Account. Retrieved June 10, 2013, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/homeland_supp.pdf Department of Homeland Security. (2013).Creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved June 10, 2013, from http://www.dhs.gov/creation-department-homeland-security Read More