CBP Must Optimize Resources, Increase Port Standardization, Says Kerlikowske

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- It's important that the port directors and field operations directors have the authority to shift and move resources in order to reduce exam times and cargo slowdowns, said CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske on Oct. 18 while speaking at the Western Cargo Conference. CBP could also use additional manpower, said Kerlikowske. While Congress approved a fiscal year 2014 funding increase to hire 2,000 additional CBP officers in fiscal year 2014, which the agency is still in the process of hiring, the White House asked for another 2,000 for FY2015 (see 14040301).

It may be necessary to increase "certain fees," said Kerlikowske. While such fee increases may not be popular, "some of the fees haven't been adjusted in 10 years, and I would say our policies have changed in 10 years," he said. Kerlikowske also committed to keep focused on ACE development and the single window. Before joining CBP, Kerlikowske thought ACE was a hardware store, but more recently, "if it's not Ebola, it's all ACE all the time," he said.

There needs to be more consistency among policies at the port level, said Kerlikowske. There's a wide spectrum of procedures and resources, which means "if you've seen one port, you've seen one port," he joked. Kerlikowske agreed that CBP needs to "have a better level of standardization" and said he would get the message out across the agency.