DHS R&DLawmakers make steep cuts to DHS research budget

Over the weekend the Senate approved an omnibus spending bill that would result in deep cuts to DHS’ research and development arm.

On 17 December the Senate voted sixty-seven to thirty-two to approve a consolidated omnibus spending bill that the House had approved the day before. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.

The bill allocates $668 million to DHS’ Science and Technology Directorate, a difference of more than $500 million from the agency’s request of $1.17 billion for the fiscal year.

After repeated pleas from DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and Taro O’Toole, the undersecretary of the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate, lawmakers added more than $100 million to the agency’s budget.

O’Toole argued that such steep budget cuts would deprive DHS of critical research and development.

Under the new bill, the S&T Management and Administration would receive $135 million, a 10 percent cut, while S&T research, development, acquisition, and operations would be allocated $533 million, nearly a 50 percent cut from DHS’ request.

Instead of allocating research funds more specifically to each department, lawmakers opted to create consolidated budget for research, development, and innovation programs that would allow S&T more flexibility in shifting research priorities and funding projects.