(The following story by R.G. Edmonson appeared on The Journal of Commerce website on February 1, 2010.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Initial figures for fiscal 2011 indicate that the departments of Transportation and Homeland Security will be marking time financially in fiscal 2011, in keeping with President Obama’s promise last week to freeze the budget as a deficit-reduction measure.
The bottom-line numbers published Monday for both departments show a 2.3 percent increase over fiscal 2010, which barely keeps up with inflation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index grew 2.7 percent in 2009; the Producer Price Index grew 4.4 percent.
DOT’s proposed 2011 budget is $78.8 billion, up from $77 billion in 2010. High profile expenditures include $4 billion to create the National Infrastructure Innovation and Finance fund, $1.14 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration Next Generation air control system, and $1 billion for high-speed rail. DOT did not highlight spending for other surface transportation expenditures.
The president’s budget freeze was not to include national security agencies or entitlement programs, but the DHS budget request is $43.6 billion in 2011, up from $42.6 billion in 2010.
Among the program highlights are $54 million for the Transportation Security Administration to modernize and streamline credentialing programs, $5.5 billion to Customs and Border Protection to support 20,000 Border Patrol officers and add 300 Customs officers, and complete the first segment of the virtual border fence between the U.S. and Mexico. Absent from the highlights are expenditures for trade facilitation or cargo security.