On May 5, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, which provides the Department of Homeland Security with $42.4 billion in net discretionary funding to carry out its five primary missions: prevent terrorism and enhance security; secure and manage our borders; enforce and administer our immigration laws; safeguard and secure cyberspace; and strengthen national preparedness and resilience. This is $1.8 billion more than the original FY 2017 Budget Request and $1.5 billion more than the FY 2016 enacted level.
The budget sustains current DHS operations while offering enhancements to border security and immigration operations in support of the President’s Executive Orders on Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements. It also includes funding for 40 miles of replacement border fencing, and funds FEMA state and local grants to prepare states, local governments, tribes, and territories at $2.7 billion, sustaining FY 2016 enacted levels, including $1.3 billion for state, local and tribal grants, $690 million for firefighter assistance grants, and $350 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants.
Additionally, it funds U.S. Coast Guard operations at $344 million above the FY 2017 budget request, allowing the Coast Guard to continue procurement of advanced ships, aircraft and unmanned systems, as well as to address backlogs and repairs to facilities damaged by Hurricane Matthew.
Additional highlights of the 2017 budget include:
- $2.7 billion in grants for state and local communities; $501 million above the FY 2017 budget request.
- $7.3 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), of which $6.7 billion supports emergency funding for major disasters.
- $10.5 billion for the U.S. Coast Guard.
- $292 million for 40 miles of replacement fence along the Southwest border.
- $79 million for border technology, $16 million for an additional multi-role enforcement aircraft, $32 million for six additional light enforcement helicopters, $44 million for continued deployment of Integrated Fixed Towers, and $19 million for the small unmanned aerial system program.
- $3.2 billion to support ICE’s enforcement and removal operations supporting custody, transportation, and the Alternatives to Detention program.
- $50 million for White House fence replacement.
- Provides the National Protection and Programs Directorate with $225 million for Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigations which protects agencies against exploitation by unauthorized and unmanaged hardware and software.
- Provides the National Protection and Programs Directorate with $468 million for the National Cybersecurity Protection System which provides a wide range of cybersecurity capabilities for the .gov domain including intrusion detection, intrusion prevention, advanced cyber analytics, information sharing, and core infrastructure using classified and unclassified information.
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