Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act of 2025
The Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act of 2025 would require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to substantially expand its workforce at ports of entry. Specifically, it directs the CBP Commissioner to hire and assign at least 1,000 new officers each fiscal year, above current attrition, until staffing meets the levels identified in the agency’s Workload Staffing Model. It also authorizes additional support staff to perform administrative duties and requires adjustments to staffing calculations that account for traffic forecasts, seasonal surges, pre- and post-COVID travel trends, and increased outbound inspections at land ports of entry. If the 1,000-officer target is not met in fiscal year 2026 or any year thereafter, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review would be triggered to examine hiring practices and related issues. In addition, the bill requires a port infrastructure enhancement report within 90 days that identifies improvements to help interdict opioids and other illegal drugs, identifies needed detection and safety equipment, and notes any port-specific barriers to deploying technology used at other ports. The bill also tightens reporting requirements on temporary duty assignments and redeployments, expands oversight of reimbursable service agreements, and mandates inclusion of these details in the annual CBP staffing reporting. Finally, it amends a 2015 trade law to require disclosure of factors considered before entering agreements (economic and security benefits) and the locations and hours of reimbursable services. The package relies on available appropriations and would add to the annual DHS/CBP reporting requirements. Sponsors listed in the bill text include Rep. Kennedy (NY) and Rep. Thompson (MS), and the measure was referred to the Homeland Security and Ways and Means committees.
Key Points
- 11,000 additional CBP officers per fiscal year, funded to the extent of appropriations, until staffing meets the Workload Staffing Model targets; includes authorization for non-law-enforcement support staff to handle administrative functions.
- 2Workload Staffing Model adjustments: staffing calculations must consider port-by-port inspections data, seasonal and forecasted traffic, pre/post-COVID travel trends, and outbound inspections at land ports.
- 3Infrastructure and equipment report: within 90 days, CBP must identify port infrastructure improvements, detection equipment needs (including opioid precursors/derivatives), and safety equipment to protect officers.
- 4Temporary duty assignments and redeployments: CBP must provide quarterly reports with details on TDYs, staffing needs for assignments, redeployment notices (10 days’ advance notice before moving staff), and briefing of affected employees; includes visibility into costs and impact on southern border operations.
- 5Reimbursable service agreements and annual reporting: the bill requires added disclosure on factors considered before entering such agreements (economic and security benefits) and specify locations and hours of reimbursable services; CBP’s annual staffing report must summarize progress toward hiring targets, update a prior DHS staffing report, and summarize information from the new and related reports.