America’s federal prison system is running a 20th-century operation against 21st-century threats. If Congress is serious about public safety, it must modernize the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Right now, Washington is moving in the opposite direction.

This budget cycle, President Donald Trump proposed $8.9 billion to operate the bureau. Roughly 65% of that is payroll for the men and women who show up to one of the most dangerous jobs you can have each day. Fifteen percent is medical care for the inmates, and the remaining 20% is for operations of the facilities — many of which are in disrepair from decades of neglect. Congress cut that $8.9 billion to $8.4 billion. A half-billion dollars may not sound like much compared to some of the other agencies, but for the bureau, it has significant consequences. It means fewer officers, less technology, and fewer tools to keep prisons secure and prepare people to return to society.