Northern Border Security and Staffing Reform Act
This bill, titled the Northern Border Security and Staffing Reform Act, amends the existing Northern Border Security Review Act to strengthen oversight and planning for staffing at U.S. ports of entry along the northern border. It requires the threat analysis for the northern border to be updated on a defined schedule (initially within 180 days after enactment and then every five years) and to include new elements. These elements cover current staffing levels versus future demand, anticipated retirement surges and how to mitigate them, housing challenges for officers, and the development of local recruiting plans to hire people who live near northern ports. The Secretary of Homeland Security would also assess recruitment and retention tools (such as direct hire authority, bonuses, relocation incentives, and student loan repayment) to address staffing shortages. The bill also expresses a congressional sense that CBP should begin a hiring surge at northern ports to counter the looming retirements and shortages.
Key Points
- 1The threat analysis requirement is moved to occur not later than 180 days after enactment and then every five years, replacing the previous 180‑day trigger and extending the cadence for updates.
- 2New elements added to the threat analysis include: (a) current CBP officer/agent staffing at the northern border vs. projected future demand, (b) anticipated retirement surges and mitigation plans, (c) housing challenges for officers, and (d) development of local recruiting plans to hire locally near northern ports.
- 3An additional subsection requires the Secretary to include in each threat analysis a plan to address retirement surges and staffing shortages, plus an assessment of recruitment and retention tools (e.g., direct hire authority, bonuses, relocation pay, additional pay authorities, student loan repayment).
- 4The bill defines “local recruiting plans” as efforts to recruit and hire local candidates for careers in CBP at nearby ports of entry.
- 5The bill contains a sense of Congress urging CBP to initiate a hiring surge at northern border ports to prevent staffing shortfalls and protect border security, citing challenges like harsh winters, isolation, and housing shortages that hinder recruitment.