Adfero Group HSPI

US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Ralph Basham steps down as head of the agency, after agreeing to stay on board under the new Administration to help ensure a smooth transition.

One concern with the newly established Department of Homeland Security was that there were too many “political” positions in the leadership, jobs that were not filled by career professionals but went to folks brought in by the administration. The problem was not just the potential to politicize homeland security, but also that when an administration was replaced there would be no one left to run the department.

Yesterday, Secretary Napolitano testified before Congress for the first time since her confirmation. One issue that spurred interest was the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Whole Body Imaging (WBI) program which screens passengers for explosives at the checkpoint by imaging bodies and looking for anomalies (in place of a metal detection wand inspection and physical pat-down).

If you ever want to know what’s a priority in Washington the old adage, “follow the money” will tell you very quickly. That little phrase holds true again especially when it comes to cyber security and DHS.

Secretary Napolitano announces her appointment of Chani W. Wiggins as Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs. She also names Nelson Peacock and Sue Ramanathan as deputy assistant secretaries in that shop.

Time is running out to address the critical national security issue of Iran’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Even the leading experts on the issue are divided on a solution, and time is running out.

Topics for hearings: Post-Katrina Gulf Coast rebuilding; the role of state and local law enforcement in immigration enforcement; unionization and the Department of Homeland Security.

While DHS officials have been reluctant to provide details on the future of DHS’ E-Verify in the early stages of the Administration, President Obama’s just released “A New Era of Responsibility” outlining the President’s FY 2010 Federal Budget vision may provide an early indicator of the Administration’s support for DHS program.

FEMA can only be moved out by legislative fiat and it is unlikely that any bill would clear all the hurdles to get to the president’s desk as a stand alone measure. That means it would have to go in omnibus legislation. Leadership likely won’t do that without a go ahead from 1600 Pennsylvania.

In yesterday’s House Homeland Security Committee Hearing with DHS Sec. Napolitano, US Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) questioned the Secretary about TSA requirements for Transportation Workers Identification Credentials (TWIC) cards for workers that serve as mule drivers (aka “mule skinners”) for a canal boat that operates at the National Canal Park in his District in Easton, PA.

Julie Myers Wood, a Security Debrief contributor and the former head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, spoke with Mickey McCarter of Homeland Security Today to discuss making the E-Verify employment eligibility program permanent before it expires in May.

Janet Napolitano dove into the Congressional Hearing pool today making her first appearance as DHS Secretary before the House Homeland Security Committee. The nearly three hour session (which included two recesses for floor votes) was as much a listening session as it was a “listing” session where Members gave her their respective thoughts and concerns. From the future of FEMA to interoperability, here are some highlights.

Congress set an arbitrary deadline on cargo scanning that was made without any semblance of a risk-based analysis, without regard to the sovereignty of foreign governments with whom the Obama Administration says it wants better relations and without any economic analysis of the impacts of their mandate. Congress had a knee-jerk reaction and acted stupidly (in my opinion) in mandating measures that do not measurably add to the safety or security of the supply chain.

First on the list of threats is the continuing economic crisis, which could further destabilize world economies.

Security Debrief highlights a copy of the memo sent to Secretary Napolitano and Acting Deputy Secretary Beers from Peggy Sherry, Acting Chief Financial Officer, on the Conference Agreement on Economic Stimulus.

The “Merida Initiative,” as we know it, does not provide the level of funding necessary for Mexico to succeed in its battle against the cartels. If we don’t pay more into it now, we’re certain to pay far more for our mistake later.

There is always a danger when you post something to the web. Sometimes you can say something profound or say something really stupid. Sometimes you give facts only to have those same facts change on you and then find out you were wrong the first time. As confusing as that sounds, this is one of those times.

A comprehensive list of the Key DHS Funding Provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Yesterday, the White House called in Homeland Secretary Napolitano to chair one of the breakout sessions at the President’s “fiscal responsibility summit.” Her session focused on what the government buys. AP published a summary of the discussions. Most of the talk focused on rules and policies for hiring government contractors.

By federal government standards, there has been a veritable frenzy of activity related to immigration at the Department of Homeland Security. With three high-profile appointments in the last couple of weeks, the Administration has sent mixed signals about the direction it intends to take on immigration policy from a public perspective, as well as how it intends to manage the effort from an internal perspective. Oddly, the mainstream media has missed or ignored these developments.