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The increasing public attention on management of U.S. ports underscores the importance of adequate staffing at U.S. air, land and seaports. The single best way to facilitate the more than $1.3 trillion in import-export trade that crosses U.S. borders annually is by ensuring an adequate presence of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at our ports of entry. Unfortunately, staffing at U.S. ports of entry is woefully short and destined to stay that way under the Bush administration budget. For the next fiscal year, the White House is calling for a larger increase—$41 million—for a new personnel system than to fund new personnel at the ports of entry*—$32 million. Currently, there simply aren’t enough CBP officers, import specialists and vital support employees to inspect more than a fraction of the cargo crossing U.S. borders. It is imperative that the Department of Homeland Security and the White House understand the direct connection between effective trade facilitation and secure borders is adequate staffing, training and resources for the men and women working so diligently to keep our nation strong economically and secure from those who would do us harm.

* This figure represents personnel at the ports and border crossings as opposed to Border Patrol.