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Washington, D.C.— The spending proposal unveiled on Capitol Hill makes it much more difficult for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to effectively carry out its mission, said the head of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU). In the bill, funding for CBP and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is frozen at current levels and only in place until Feb. 27, 2015.

“CBP is already underfunded and understaffed,” said NTEU National President Colleen M. Kelley. “Short-term funding at current levels keeps a critical security agency struggling with resources, creates uncertainty and inhibits long-term planning.”

The $1.01 trillion spending bill is aimed at keeping the rest of government operational through Sept. 30—when fiscal year 2015 ends. DHS was the only agency singled out for temporary funding.

“CBP employees play a vital role in safeguarding the nation against everything from terrorism to the Ebola virus while facilitating tourism and trade,” President Kelley said. “Congress is playing politics with the budget rather than supporting their mission.”

Just this week, DHS placed last in the annual rankings of the best place to work in the federal government. The agency has consistently poor scores and insufficient personnel, and ongoing budget issues are contributing factors.

NTEU will work with the next Congress to provide a full year’s worth of funding and increase budgets in the future.

NTEU is the largest independent federal employee union and represents 150,000 workers in 31 agencies and departments.