Homeland Security Receives $4 Billion of War Bill

April 17, 2003
The Homeland Security Department will receive $4 billion of the $79 billion bill Congress approved to pay for the war. President George W. Bush has already signed the bill into law.

State and local legislators, who have complained for months that heightened security measures called for by the federal government are taking a huge bite out of their budgets, will share about $2.2 billion. About one-third of the money, $700 million, will go to urban areas such as New York, Washington and other cities considered prime terrorism targets.

The Transportation Security Administration, part of the department, will receive $665 million to fund security improvements at airports, while the Coast Guard will get $628 million, much of it to support war-related military activities. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security will give more than half the money, $2.4 billion, to the airlines, which face bankruptcy due to travel slowdowns related to terrorism fears and the war with Iraq.

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection will use $90 million of its $333 million allocation to develop detection and monitoring equipment to uncover radioactive material that terrorists might try to smuggle into the country.

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 23, 2025
Learn about lone working laws in the US, key hazards and risks, and get actionable advice on how to keep your lone workers safe.
June 23, 2025
Chemical substitution can quickly get messy, with unclear steps and the risk of swapping one hazard for another. This checklist helps you avoid costly mistakes, prioritize which...
June 23, 2025
A mature approach to health and safety means making safety a core part of your culture, where everyone plays a role and performance is measured by more than just numbers. In this...
June 23, 2025
Behavior-based safety focuses on observing and encouraging safe behaviors to reduce workplace risks. Experts explain how strong safety culture, clear methods, and digital tools...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!