A 2011 budget request for the Secret Service focused on providing funding for the 2012 presidential campaign and to fight cyber crime, among other issues, was presented today before the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security Appropriations.Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan addressed Chairman David Price, Ranking Member Mike Rogers and other members of the committee about the budget request that fund four primary areas: training and equipment needed for the 2012 presidential campaign; protecting the White House complex and other protective sites; sustaining investigative operations in protective intelligence; and fixing IT and communications deficiencies in programs supporting the protective and investigative mission.
Totaling $1.57 billion, the budget request is an increase of $89 million over the FY 2010 enacted appropriation. Almost half half of this proposed increase represents adjustments to the base totaling $43.2 million, including funding to maintain and replace detection equipment for the new White House mail-screening facility, to accommodate pay adjustments associated with General Schedule pay increases, and to hire staff associated with cyber crime investigations.
With the increase in network intrusions, hacking attacks, malicious software and account takeovers leading to significant data breaches, the budget request also provides funding for the Secret Service to increase the security posture of its internal network, provide more storage to handle data for existing operations, improve information sharing capabilities, allow for the scheduling and tracking of all resources needed to support mission operations, and begin the migration planning and scheduling activities related to the systems and applications that will transition from the Secret Service to DHS data centers.
Referring to cyber crimes, Sullivan said the transnational, multi-jurisdictional nature of these crimes has increased the time and resources needed for successful investigation and adjudication.
“These investigations also require seamless coordination between Secret Service domestic and international field offices, headquarters, and our law enforcement partners throughout the world,” Sullivan said. “For example, in the TJX investigation, the Secret Service worked with domestic law enforcement partners as well as those in Estonia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Ukraine, Spain, Belarus and Germany.”
