CBP Warns of Extended Wait Times, Delays to CEEs, ACE Due to Sequestration

The planned budget cuts set to take effect March 1 would immediately force CBP to cut back on overtime and will likely result in longer wait times, the agency told industry stakeholders during a Feb. 22 conference call to discuss sequestration. According to the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), while uncertainty remains on the details of how CBP's operations will continue following the cuts, the agency was anxious to provide its plans for international trade processing.

The cut in overtime and expected furloughs are expected to slow down trade processing, said NCBFAA. The agency is projecting wait times of about double, from two to four or five hours, with cargo exams taking more than five days, the association said. CBP won't allow a degradation of security and will focus on core processing for cargo and travelers with a continued use of its trusted trade programs, according to the NCBFAA. CBP didn't comment on the cuts.

The agency will use a risk-based approach to more discretionary functions, it said. For instance, the planned addition of new Centers for Excellence and Expertise could be delayed, as could the scheduled completion for the Automated Commercial Environment, which is scheduled to be finished within three years, said the NCBFAA. Some elements of intellectual property rights and antidumping/countervailing enforcement may also be jeopardized as a result of sequestration. There will be significant communication through the individual ports following sequestration, which will likely provide more detailed guidance for brokers, said NCBFAA.

CBP is "planning to spread the impact of the reduced funding across the agency evenly through reduced overtime and potentially furloughs if required, so no one port would be severely disadvantaged," said Mike Mullen, executive director of the Express Association of America, by email. "The total impact of the sequestration is not fully known at this time. While some delays could occur with increased wait times during peak hours, we and other members of the trade are committed to working with CBP to do everything we can to minimize the impact"

(See ITT's Online Archives 13022115 for summary of CBP's furlough plans. See ITT's Online Archives 12091723 for summary of how sequestration would affect CBP.)