HLS 6060 Strategic Planning and 2016 Budget Analysis for the Department of Homeland Security

2016 Budget Analysis for the Department of Homeland Security AffairsNameInstitutional AffiliationDate
The United States Department of Homeland Security is responsible for maintaining public security. The state missions of the department include border security, cyber security, prevention and management of disasters, immigration and customs and border security. It was formed in response to the September 11 attacks that occurred in the United States. It, therefore, protects the United States within and outside its bordersCITATION Wil16 \l 1033 (William & Barbara, 2016). The DHS is the third largest department that is found in the cabinet after the Department of Defense and the other of Veteran Affairs. It has more than 240,000 employees CITATION USD \l 1033 (DHS Department, 2016). This complex mission of ensuring that there is security in the United States means that the department needs to be allocated adequate resources so that it can able to carry out its objectives in a convenient manner.
Analysis of the Budget Process and Format.
In the fiscal year of 2016, the department was allocated $ 64.9 billion in the total budget authority. $ 41.2 billion was also allocated to the net discretionary funding. The amount that was spent on the Gross Discretionary funding is $ 51.9 billionCITATION USD \l 1033 (DHS Department, 2016). Discretionary fees cover $4.0 billion. The Disaster Relief Fund is provided separately meaning that it is not included in the discretionary amounts above. In the 2016 FY Budget, the Disaster Relief Fund was allocated $6.7 billion.
The 2016 FY budget is grounded in the vision of the Secretariat of DHS that there needs to be a DHS Department that operates by recognizing the various departments that are found in DHS. By ensuring that there is unity in the Department, DHS will achieve its mission and responsibilities regarding delivering services to the Nation. The FY 2016 DHS budget ensures appears to be in supports of the 2015 president’s initiative known as President’s Management Agenda and Cross-Agency Priorities. The priority areas that are referred to in this case are effectiveness, economic growth, efficiency, and People & culture.
The above figures show that the FY 2016 Budget for the DHS resources on the mission of the various Departments. The missions of DHS is to prevent terrorism at all costs by enhancing the security of the Nation, maintaining security at the borders and securing and maintaining the cyberspace. It is also responsible for the reinforcement of the various laws of the state about immigration and strengthening the preparedness of a nation to various problems that may affect the country CITATION Jer13 \l 1033 (Jerome, 2013).
It further analysis reveals that the President's budget for the financial year 2016 includes some of the investments that that can enable the country to be prepared for issues that can arise as a result of climate change and investment opportunities by the government in Information and Technology as a way of boosting the security of the Nation. The budget also appears to have made more investment in the Department of Financial systems as one of the government initiatives of ensuring that there is modernization in the legal, financial systemsCITATION USD \l 1033 (DHS Department, 2016). This initiative will be having a lot of benefits as the financial information that is delivered is of high quality and accurate. Information will be made available promptly leading to faster decision making especially in the DHS, a department that involves making financial decisions regularly.
Budget Expenditure at various Departments and Revenue Trends
Prevention of Terrorism and enhancement of Security
This is one of the most important core mission that DHS tries as much as it can to fulfill. As a way of achieving this, the Department needs to make a heavy investment in infrastructure on land, air and the seas since these are the target areas of the terrorists. Investment in modern technology by the Department in intelligence systems has been a great milestone in the achievement of this objective at the Department. In the 2016 FY Presidential budget, the president included funding for the key areas that are responsible for the maintenance of security.
An amount of $ 3.7 billion was allocated the Transport Security Administration (TSA) CITATION USD \l 1033 (DHS Department, 2016). The department is tasked with carrying out screening of passengers at from the various means of transport at the various locations. The amount was spent on the purchase of new screening equipment to increase their number and make it efficient for travelers by reducing the amount of time that is spent in screening travelers. There was an increase in the screening terminals due to the allocation of these funds in different parts of the nation. The Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) is located in 42 US airports. 1.25 million Members were added to the TTP leading to a total of more than 1.7 million members CITATION USD \l 1033 (DHS Department, 2016).
The Radiological and Nuclear Detection Equipment Acquisition was allocated $101 million. The department ensures that there is the safe entry of people at the ports CITATION USD \l 1033 (DHS Department, 2016). The amount allocated is to be spent in the purchase of radioactive and nuclear materials that are to be used.
As a way of securing America’s chemical facilities, the budget allocated $94.5 million. The department would achieve this through carrying out regular inspection and reinforcing the law about the Chemical Anti-Terrorism Standards. The allocation also catered $16 million that would be used in the regulating the sale of Ammonium Nitrate a common product in the manufacture of explosivesCITATION USD \l 1033 (DHS Department, 2016).
The budget also recognized the importance of maintaining security at State House. As such $86.7 million was allocated the Unites States Secret Service that is responsible for the White House Security CITATION Ish13 \l 1033 (Ishiwatari, 2013). Bio Watch Program that is responsible for detecting the release of dangerous biological agents that may threaten the security was allocated $83.3 million CITATION Wil16 \l 1033 (William & Barbara, 2016).
In the budget, the government appeared to have invested in modern technology as a way of dealing with the issue of visas.$ 29.4 million was allocated to the Electronic Vise Information Update System(EVIUS) that allows the visa holders who are non-immigrants to update their biodata through a public websiteCITATION Wil16 \l 1033 (William & Barbara, 2016).
$65.8 million was allocated for the replacement of the Automated Biometric Identification System with a new one that has improved detection capability. It would also lower the operation costs.
Security and management of Borders
The DHS is committed to ensuring that it reduces the flow of illegal immigrants into the country by improving on the boundary security. It has been achieved through the use of modern technology and improving on infrastructure. The FY 2016 Budget supports all the efforts that are made by the department. The Budget indicated the allocation of funds in the following key areas to promote security at the borders.