WHO: Department of Homeland Security
WHAT: Defending Congress’ allocation ofhundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars this year to unnecessary regional “emergency operation centers.” This includes $132 million for the multistate National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, $10 million for the National Institute for Hometown Security in Kentucky, and $57 million for the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Alabama.
WHO IT’S AN OUTRAGE: While originally set up to allow better coordination among regional authorities could coordinate responses in case of terrorist attacks, these are blatant pork projects. The Office of Management and Budget has noted that 62 percent of this funding comes from earmarks, and is redundant. Meanwhile, authorities have yet to establish a secure single-channel radio system for first responders from multiple agencies — a major recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.
WHERE TO VENT: Call the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general at 202-254-4100.
