The President’s fiscal 2007 budget request for the
Department of Homeland Security is six percent over
2006 levels, weighs in at $42.7 billion, and provides
new funds for strengthening the department’s
organization to “maximize mission performance.”
That includes an increase of $8.1 million to the
Office of Policy, Planning and International Affairs
to fund the development of the Secure Border Initiative
policy office; establish the Committee on Foreign Owned
Investments in the United States; expand duties of the
International Affairs Office; and enhance capabilities
of the Homeland Security Advisory Committee to work
with private sector stakeholders, according to DHS.
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer would also
see an increase of $12.6 million to increase staff
resources to comply with the department’s financial
accountability act, analyze opportunities for
consolidating financial management activities, support
the department’s plan to achieve an unqualified audit
opinion, as well as produce timely, reliable, and useful
financial data.
The White House requested $41.8 million for the Office
of the Chief Human Capital Officer to continue implementing
the department’s new personnel system — MAXHR — even though
a federal judge recently ruled parts of it illegal in
response to a lawsuit brought by a group of unions.
The budget also requests an increase of $7.8 million for
the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer to improve
acquisition operations and crack down on fraud and misuse,
as well as to ensure better service delivery and proper
procurement and contracting procedures.