Securing America's Ports of Entry Act of 2025
Securing America's Ports of Entry Act of 2025 would markedly expand the staffing and capability of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at ports of entry. The core requirement is to hire, train, and assign 1,000 additional CBP officers each fiscal year, above attrition, until staffing meets targets identified in CBP’s Workload Staffing Model. The bill also authorizes additional non-law enforcement support staff to handle administrative tasks. It emphasizes data-driven staffing decisions, requiring the Workload Staffing Model to incorporate port-specific inspection data, seasonal and forecasted volumes, pre- and post-pandemic travel considerations, and outbound inspection needs. In addition to staffing increases, the bill imposes reporting and oversight provisions. It requires a Ports of Entry Infrastructure Enhancement Report within 90 days that identifies improvements to interdict opioids and other drugs, potential detection equipment upgrades (including precursor and derivative controls), and safety equipment for officers. It adds quarterly reporting on temporary duty assignments (TDYs), including reassignment details, costs, and how TDYs relate to efforts along the southern border, as well as notice and briefing requirements before redeployments. It also makes targeted amendments to reporting requirements linked to agreements and mandates an annual DHS-wide reporting update on progress toward staffing targets and related historical reports. The overall effect is to institutionalize a longer-term, data-driven push to increase CBP presence at ports of entry and to improve the tools and information used to manage those staffing decisions.
Key Points
- 1Mandated officer and support staff growth: Hire 1,000 additional CBP officers per fiscal year (above attrition) until staffing targets in the Workload Staffing Model are met, plus authorization to hire non-enforcement administrative support staff.
- 2Data-driven staffing and forecasting: Workload Staffing Model must use port-specific data, seasonal and forecasted volume changes, pre-/post-COVID travel patterns, and outbound inspection needs to determine staffing levels.
- 3Oversight if targets aren’t met: If the 1,000-officer annual target isn’t achieved in 2026 or in any year when targets aren’t met, the Comptroller General must review CBP hiring practices and report findings to Congress.
- 4Infrastructure and equipment focus: A Ports of Entry Infrastructure Enhancement Report within 90 days identifying improvements to interdict opioids and drugs, relevant detection equipment (including precursors/derivatives), and safety gear for officers.
- 5Expanded reporting and transparency: Quarterly TDY reports with detailed data (numbers, reassignment, costs, affected ports, and reimbursable service agreements), advance redeployment notice to affected ports, staff briefings to mitigate vulnerabilities, and amendments to existing reporting requirements under related trade laws.