Mission, TX, USA - Feb. 16, 2023. In recent years, because of background checks, training requirements, and other pre-employment processes, the time to recruit and hire new officers has ranged from 300 to 600 days. Image: Vic Hinterlang/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffAn analysis done for Congress has raised doubts that CBP will be able to boost hiring as envisioned in recommendations from the House Homeland Security Committee for the widescale budget measure that House Republican leaders are drafting.
Unlike many other committees, an earlier budget outline assigned that committee an increase in spending through 2034, largely reflecting the emphasis by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans on border security and immigration issues.
Among the recommendations for additional funding—nearly $28 billion over five years and more than $67 billion over 10—is funding for “CBP to hire additional border patrol agents and other personnel, provide signing and retention bonuses, and expand marketing and recruitment to increase the CBP workforce,” says the Congressional Budget Office analysis of that recommendation.
That includes “$4.1 billion for CBP to hire, train, and, in some cases, rehire federal employees as border patrol agents, field operations officers, air and marine agents, and support staff; and $2.1 billion for signing and retention bonuses.”
“CBP currently employs about 19,000 border patrol agents, 26,000 officers, and 1,400 air and marine operators. The agency indicates that the funding provided by the legislation would be used to hire approximately 8,500 employees, including 5,000 officers and 3,000 border patrol agents. Using information from the agency, CBO expects that officers and agents would be hired gradually over the next 10 years,” it says.
However, it says there is “significant uncertainty” over “how quickly CBP could hire additional border patrol agents and officers.”
“Although the legislation would provide funding for signing and retention bonuses and increase spending on marketing, recruitment, and screening of new employees, significant uncertainty exists about how responsive the labor supply might be to fill those positions. In recent years, because of background checks, training requirements, and other pre-employment processes, the time to recruit and hire new officers has ranged from 300 to 600 days,” it says.
Numerous funding bills enacted in recent years have called for increased CBP staffing—as well as at other law enforcement agencies such as the Border Patrol—but have fallen short for reasons including the difficult nature of the work and a hiring process that dissuades candidates.
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