Department of Homeland Security Cuts Tech Funding

President Bush originally requested that $3.8 billion be put aside for technology in support of DHS projects. Congress approved $3 billion.

Lauren Jones Shu, senior analyst of federal market analysis at Reston, Va.-based Input, said the reductions are in part due to the slow implementations of several technology projects designed to fight terrorism.

Overall, President Bush signed into law $29.4 billion in funding for the DHS Appropriations Act. That figure was $1 billion more than the amount he requested from Congress.

"Most of the additional funding, however, will likely be used primarily for salaries for first responders and passenger, baggage and cargo screeners--not technology," Shu said in a statement.

According to Input, the lack of funding will have the most impact on the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US VISIT) entry-and-exit system. The US VISIT budget was cut 33 percent to $330 million, and the Automated Commercial Environment modernization program was cut 29 percent to $441 million.