FEMA

FEMA Extends Disaster Funds By Days, Strengthening Dems' Hand In Shutdown Fight

Brian Beutler | September 26, 2011, 1:55PM

President Barack Obama meets with Democratic and Republican leaders

A key reason Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) delayed a vote on legislation to fund the government and re-up FEMA's disaster relief account until Monday is that, as of last week, FEMA was set to run out of funds late Monday or Tuesday. Schedule a vote so close to the deadline, and it focuses peoples' minds (Republicans, specifically) on just how reckless their political tactics are.

But it turns out FEMA's got a bit more money than expected, and may be able to hold out until Thursday or Friday, according to a Department of Homeland Security aide. And that changes both the policy urgency of the ongoing government shutdown fight, and legislative politics more broadly on Capitol Hill.

As of today, FEMA has $114 million in its disaster relief account. Divide that by the agency's daily burn rate, and it looks like FEMA will be in the black until Thursday.

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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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Immigration

Anti-Immigration Groups Give GOP Free Pass on Border Security Cuts

Benjy Sarlin | April 18, 2011, 11:26AM

US Border Patrol personnel at US-Mexico border fence

You might expect anti-immigration groups to be in an uproar over spending cuts contained in the recent budget deal, like a $226 million cut to Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology or $97 million in cuts to IT modernization programs at Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In fact, the cuts have generated barely a peep from border hawks, who have given the GOP a free pass even after years of campaigning for increased resources.

According to Rosemary Jenks, director of government affairs for NumbersUSA, her group is not protesting any of the reductions in spending. Nor will any Republicans be penalized in their annual grades for voting for them.

"For an administration that's decided it's not a priority, it doesn't make sense to throw money at them," Jenks told TPM in an interview before Congress agreed to a final spending deal.

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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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Darrell Issa

Issa Defends Subpoenas, Provides Timeline of Negotiations with DHS

Susan Crabtree | February 24, 2011, 5:39PM

Darrell Issa (R-CA)

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) is jabbing back at criticism from Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the ranking Democrat on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, that the first three subpoenas Issa sent out this Congress were "rushed" and "unilateral" and show a scatter-shot approach to investigating aimed at making headlines rather than improving government.

Cummings sent Issa a letter Wednesday accusing him of misusing the committee and failing to adequately consult Democrats before sending out three subpoenas in the last week, one to Bank of America looking for documents related to Countrywide's infamous VIP mortgage program, and two to Department of Homeland Security officials seeking depositions for the committee's investigation into whether DHS politicized FOIA requests.

Issa spokesman Kurt Bardella sent a lengthy response to Cummings' complaints and a detailed timeline, beginning with this quote: "Another day, another complaint and more righteous indignation. What else is new?"

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Al Qaeda

King Taps Journo As Senior Committee Investigator

Susan Crabtree | February 16, 2011, 12:40PM

Rep. Peter King (R-NY)

Rep. Peter King (R-NY), the fiery Irishman who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, may have attracted a rash of criticism for holding one of his first hearings on the radicalization of U.S. Muslims and homegrown terrorism, but his decision to hire a respected New York scribe as a top staffer is a sign he is serious about truly digging into holes in the nation's counter-terrorism programs and policies.

King has tapped James Gordon Meek, an eight-year veteran of the New York Daily News and a respected reporter on the terrorism beat, to join the committee staff as a senior investigator.

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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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Flight 253

Obama In Situation Room: It Was 'Screw Up' But No Finger Pointing

Christina Bellantoni | January 5, 2010, 6:02PM

President Obama told the advisers he met with today that the Flight 253 incident "was a screw up that could have been disastrous."

An administration official told TPMDC that Obama expressed his frustration in the Situation Room meeting with key Cabinet members who briefed him on the ongoing review into the Christmas day attempted terror attack.

"We dodged a bullet but just barely," Obama said, according to the official.

"It was averted by brave individuals not because the system worked and that is not acceptable," Obama said. "While there will be a tendency for finger pointing, I will not tolerate it."

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Flight 253

Napolitano Sending DHS Officials Overseas To Coordinate With International Airports

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 4:07PM

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano

Top Homeland Security officials next week will do international outreach at major international airports in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America as the U.S. government continues to probe how a Nigerian man with explosives in his underwear was able to board a trans-Atlantic flight.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced in a statement this afternoon that Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute, Assistant Secretary for Policy David Heyman and other senior DHS officials to the airports. They will review security procedures and technology being used to screen passengers on flights bound for the United States, she said.

"As part of the ongoing review to determine exactly what went wrong leading up to Friday's attempted terrorist attack, we are looking not only at our own processes, but also beyond our borders to ensure effective aviation security measures are in place for U.S-bound flights that originate at international airports," Napolitano said.

She said the officials will find ways to "collectively bolster our tactics for defeating terrorists wherever they may seek to launch an attack" and said she will follow-up with them in meetings in January.

President Obama received a preliminary review today that sources say will reveal communication and process breakdown within the intelligence community before the incident.

Flight 253

White House Grants Waiver For Brennan To Work On Flight 253 Review

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 10:34AM

Dep. National Security Advisor John Brennan

Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Adviser John Brennan was granted an ethics waiver so he can be part of the review into the incidents leading up to the Flight 253 attempted terror attack.

The White House announced and posted the waiver in a blog post last night, just before Brennan delivers the preliminary review to the president.

Norm Eisen, special counsel to the president for ethics and government reform, wrote in the blog that Brennan deserves a waiver to get around the Obama administration's rules related to former employers because he "brings a unique mixture of know-how and understanding to this assignment."

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Flight 253

Obama Getting Preliminary Flight 253 Report Today

Christina Bellantoni | December 31, 2009, 10:06AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama will learn preliminary results from the review he ordered of the leadup to the attempt terror attack on the Christmas Day Flight 253.

Sources tell TPMDC that Obama, on vacation in Hawaii, will receive a basic readout before the full review is completed. The probe will reportedly show that U.S. government intelligence agencies failed to share key information, a similar criticism in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

It is unlikely the information will be shared with the press and the public.

The Associated Press reported that White House homeland security and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan was planning to send Obama the first summary of the review. The final report also will include recommendations for how to prevent future missteps.

Administration officials believe the review will show a link between Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab and al Qaeda.

Late Update: Brennan also was granted a waiver to participate in the review. More on that here.