Tug of War
Many state and local officials say they aren’t getting the money they need to fend off terrorism or to manage the aftermath of an attack, according to a recent study sponsored by the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security.
The nationwide study found that 87 percent of respondents say they do not have enough money for security needs. The majority of local elected officials and emergency service professionals said they blame state governments for diverting federal funds. Others, predominantly on the state level, said the funds were entangled in the federal grant application process.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, however, recently dismissed growing complaints from state and local governments about slow-moving funds. He says the money is there, just waiting to be allocated.
“I know there are concerns about access to dollars, if I were a governor or mayor I’d be concerned,” Ridge told USA Today after speaking to a conference of business and government leaders. “The dollars are available to the cities and states, they just need to apply for them.”
“You’re never going to hear a governor say he doesn’t need more money,” said Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who also spoke at the conference. “We’re all facing budget crises, so we’re all looking for somebody to pay and help.”
Members of the Democratic Caucus began distributing the survey, authored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.), Chair of the Task Force, and Rep. Robert Menendez (N.J.), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, in late October. The survey is based on the fundamental Homeland security questions: “Are we doing all we can to secure our hometowns?” and “What do our hometowns need?”
The areas the survey found to be most lacking included firefighter staffing, gear to protect against hazardous materials and communications devices. The federal government requires states to dedicate 80 percent of their security equipment allocations to local emergency responders. The remaining 20 percent is for state-level equipment needs.
The DHS points out that since March 1, it has released more than $4.4 billion in grants to state and local governments and private sector organizations to enhance terrorism preparedness. DHS also provides smaller allocations for training exercises and administrative concerns at the states’ discretion.
In response to complaints from state and local officials, DHS announced in May it would allocate $700 million to help protect urban areas and critical infrastructure. At the time, DHS said most of that money would be provided to states in the form of grants to boost security in 30 metropolitan areas. In June, the department also awarded nearly $400 million in grants to 10 states to help improve the emergency response capabilities of firefighters, police, emergency medical personnel and state and local governments.
“America’s mayors have asked for timely, direct and adequate funding, but the funding we have been receiving has not been timely, not been adequate, and is far from direct,” Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley said in response to a U.S. Conference of Mayors survey that yielded similar results to those of the Democratic Task Force survey.
But again, the Department addressed those concerns with an early November allotment of state funding. More than $2 billion in federal funds was made available to states to better prepare state and local emergency personnel to respond to future terrorist attacks.
“We do not underestimate the role that state and local governments play in protecting American citizens against the threat of terrorism,” Ridge says.
The $2.2 billion in department grants will be allocated to states through three programs, the DHS says. States would then be required to allocate 80 percent of the funding to local communities. The State Homeland Security Program will allocate $1.7 billion to improve first responders’ capabilities by conducting training exercises and by purchasing equipment, the department said.
About $500 million will be provided to states through the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, which is intended to help law enforcement agencies improve their information-sharing capabilities and reduce the vulnerability of certain high-risk targets. In addition, Homeland Security has also made $35 million available to aid in the development of Citizen Corps Councils, which are intended to help engage citizens in Homeland security.
To speed the distribution of the funding, states will now be able to apply online with one form to all three programs, DHS says.
“No longer will our state and local partners have to go to different places within the department to apply for terrorism-related funding. It ensures that nationwide, Homeland security officials have one place where they can tap into the resources as well as the information they need,” Ridge says.
