Department of Homeland Security

Obama's Border Chief Resigns

Nick R. Martin | December 22, 2011, 5:26PM

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin

The head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced his resignation on Thursday, less than two years after being appointed to the job by President Obama.

Commissioner Alan Bersin, who was one of 15 administration officials given recess appointments on March 27, 2010, said he sent his resignation to the president earlier in the day. It will be effective Dec. 30.

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Immigration

Obama Tries to Revive Far-Reaching Immigration Reform

Susan Crabtree | May 10, 2011, 6:00AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama will deliver a speech in Texas Tuesday intended to revive interest in a far-reaching approach to immigration, one of the nation's most divisive political issues.

The White House hopes to use the speech to "create a sense of urgency in Congress and the nation," according to a senior administration official. With a divided Congress and fewer advocates for comprehensive immigration than in 2007, the last time Congress tried to push through a comprehensive immigration solution, the speech undoubtedly will do more to reaffirm Obama's commitment to a key voting block in 2012 than to gain any legislative traction on Capitol Hill.

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Barack Obama

Obama Will Meet With Troops Responsible For OBL Raid

Susan Crabtree | May 6, 2011, 12:07PM

President Barack Obama will meet Friday afternoon with several members of the military assault team responsible for conducting the raid on the Abbottabad compound and killing Osama bin Laden.

White House press secretary Jay Carney confirmed Friday morning that the President plans to spend some time this afternoon with "special operators" involved in the operation.

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Homeland Security

Joe Lieberman: Be On The Lookout For Homegrown Terrorists -- Even In Your Own Family

Benjy Sarlin | May 2, 2011, 1:47PM

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who chairs the Senate's Homeland Security Committee, warned Americans on Monday to be vigilant against homegrown radicals who may improvise attacks in response to Osama Bin Laden's death.

"My own great concern in the days ahead is that a so-called 'lone wolf,' a single individual who has been radicalized, will now mobilize himself or herself to take action here at home against the American people," he said at a press conference with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) to discuss the Bin Laden raid.

While the threat level has not been raised as there is no specific evidence of any credible threats, Lieberman said that he was concerned Bin Laden's demise could inspire an attack along the lines of the Ft. Hood massacre, in which a radicalized individual soldier killed 13 people. He urged Americans to be especially vigilant in reporting any leads to authorities in the coming days.

"This is a classic 'If you see something, say something' moment," he said. "If you see suspicious behavior, call the police immediately -- and that includes if you see suspicious behavior by someone who is a friend or family member."

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Earmarks

Congress Shackles Itself, Slashes Earmarks to Nowhere

Susan Crabtree | April 12, 2011, 11:32AM

United States Capitol

Over the last few years in the hotly contested debate over Congress' ability to direct money to pet projects in their district, advocates of the practice, known as earmarking, have repeatedly argued that eliminating earmarks would only amount to a drop in the deficit bucket and have no real impact on overall spending.

The details of the deal to avert a government shutdown go a long way in undermining that point as the government is saving $10 billion by eliminating money usually set aside for earmark spending, including $630 million for so-called earmarks to nowhere, money for earmarks that has never been spent.

The latest measure that funds the government through the end of September even slashes $4.2 billion in Department of Defense earmarks, once a sacred cow of senior lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

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Barack Obama

White House Prepares For the Worst, Outlines Shutdown Plans

Susan Crabtree | April 6, 2011, 1:28PM

President Barack Obama

While President Obama and Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) remain optimistic that Republicans and Democrats can strike a budget deal and avert a looming government shutdown by Friday's deadline, the White House's Office of Management and Budget is planning for the worst.

"From a good housekeeping perspective, we're cognizant that it's Wednesday and the deadline is Friday and so we need to take appropriate steps should appropriations lapse," a senior administration official told reporters on a conference call Wednesday.

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Iran

Ridge Warns of Iran's Growing Influence Amid Middle East Unrest

Susan Crabtree | March 1, 2011, 11:59AM

Fmr. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge (R)

Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Tuesday warned of Iran's growing influence amid the Middle East's turbulent political climate, underscoring other Republicans' calls for the U.S. to take a harder line on Iran.

The spread of pro-democracy movements across the region -- from Tunisia to Egypt and Libya -- is a positive step, Ridge said, but it also creates an opening for even more Iranian influence.

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Elijah Cummings

Cummings Hits Issa For 'Rushed, Unilateral' Subpoenas

Susan Crabtree | February 24, 2011, 2:39PM

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD)

When Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) took over as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee early last month, Democrats braced for an onslaught of investigations of the Obama administration and rash of subpoenas.

So far, the subpoenas have been very few in number -- just three to date and all sent last week. But Democrats already aren't liking what they're seeing and don't want to let them go without a fight.

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Darrell Issa

Welch to Issa: Step Away -- Or At Least Step Back -- From FOIA Demands

Susan Crabtree | February 8, 2011, 11:25AM

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT)

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) is pushing back against Rep. Darrell Issa's (R-CA) investigation into whether the Obama administration is politicizing Freedom of Information Act requests.

It's not that Welch opposes the general thrust of Issa's probe. He's just worried about what could turn out to be some pretty serious unintended consequences -- squelching interest in filing FOIA requests by revealing the identities of the private citizens making them.

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Tea Party Nation

Tea Party Nation Names DHS, NAACP Among 2010's 'Liberal Hate Groups'

Jillian Rayfield | December 30, 2010, 8:26AM

Judson Phillips, leader of Tea Party Nation.

Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips put out a list yesterday of the "top five liberal hate groups," because "while the Left loves to accuse the Tea Party and Conservatives to be members of hate groups [sic], the simple fact is, there are a lot of liberal hate groups." And who made the cut for the top five? The NAACP, the Department of Homeland Security, the ACLU, the SEIU, and of course, the Southern Poverty Law Center.

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Supreme Court vacancy

Why Obama Doesn't Want To Part With Janet Napolitano

Christina Bellantoni | May 3, 2010, 1:20PM

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

It's no secret that Janet Napolitano is one of President Obama's favorite Cabinet members. But as her name continues to linger at the bottom of his Supreme Court shortlist, the fact that she's among the busiest in the administration is a signal she's unlikely to be chosen for a new job on the high court any time soon.

As Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Napolitano has her hands full handling some of the administration's biggest priorities and crises. From immigration to oil spills to airline security and domestic terror threats, Napolitano's department is tasked with major initiatives that have her traveling the country and appearing frequently on television. Plus, DHS oversees FEMA, so she isn't a stranger to handling weather threats and working on the administration's Katrina rebuilding effort.

She was in Obama's final four last spring and remains on the list this year as he nears a decision to replacing retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. Sources close to Obama have said she was chosen for her current spot -- after being considered for several others -- because of her long career in public service and her civil rights record. She's also a breast cancer survivor. These qualities all fit the bill for those empathetic characteristics Obama is seeking in a new justice, but selecting Napolitano is less certain because she's both needed and embroiled in many heated policy changes.

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Deficit

Obama Government Finds $19B In Cost Savings By Cutting Contracting, Consolidating Software Buys

Christina Bellantoni | December 21, 2009, 12:02PM

President Barack Obama

The Obama administration identified cuts to contracting within the federal government that puts the United States on track to save $19 billion this year and $40 billion by the end of the 2011 fiscal year.

Among the cuts is the consolidation of software purchases at the Department of Homeland Security to save more than $87 million.

"These changes will save the American people billions of dollars," President Obama said at an event today announcing the award winner from a government contest to identify savings.

He also said that next year he'd host an event at the White House seeking ideas from private sector on how to cut government spending.

Earlier today, staffers from the Office of Management and Budget outlined some of the cuts and announced the government will create an online "dashboard" so taxpayers can gauge whether agencies are meeting their goals.

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