Department of Justice FY 2010 Budget Request

WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that the President’s FY 2010 budget proposal totals $26.7 billion for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to increase support for the Department’s traditional missions while strengthening national security efforts. The request represents a 3.8 percent increase in budget authority and an increase of 3,977 positions over the FY 2009 enacted appropriation. “The President’s budget request demonstrates both a dedication to protecting our national security as the Department of Justice’s top priority and a renewed commitment to the Department’s traditional missions,” Attorney General Holder said. “In these tough economic times, it’s more important than ever that we remain vigilant in the fight against crime while never relaxing our guard in the battle against global terrorism.” “We must continue to invest public dollars into strategies and programs that have proved to be effective methods to combat the myriad security threats we face today. We have an obligation to protect our communities and our country in smart, proven ways,” Holder explained. The $26.7 billion budget request fully funds base operations and activities for all DOJ components and includes program enhancements totaling $1.94 billion. Approximately 90 percent of the total resources are dedicated to national security programs and DOJ’s traditional missions in law enforcement and litigation, while the remaining 10 percent funds state and local assistance programs. FY 2010 program increases and key priorities include: · $721.5 million to counter the threat of terrorism and strengthen national security. · $510.6 million to assist state and local law enforcement, including the Second Chance Act. · $62.6 million to combat financial fraud and protect the federal fisc (treasury). · $15.7 million for civil rights law enforcement. · $231.6 million to safeguard our southwest border. · $386 million for prisons and detention services. · $14 million to improve DOJ’s financial performance and accountability. To view the budget summary, visit: http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/2010summary/ National Security The Department’s top priority remains the prevention, investigation and prosecution of terrorist activities. In total, the budget requests a $721.5 million increase, including 366 agents and 324 intelligence analysts in the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), to strengthen the Department’s counterterrorism investigative capabilities, support its efforts to identify, track and defeat terrorists operating in the United States and overseas and to fortify our nation’s intelligence analysis capabilities. Within this enhancement are additional resources for the following Department components: · $555.6 million, including 357 agents and 321 intelligence analysts, for the FBI; · $64 million for General Administration; · $27.4 million for Justice Information Sharing Technology; · $20 million for Law Enforcement Wireless Communications; · $25 million for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); · $10.5 million for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP); · $10 million, including 9 agents and 3 intelligence analysts, for the DEA; · $4 million for the Office of the Inspector General; · $2.5 million for the Criminal Division; · $2.2 million for the U.S. National Central Bureau (Interpol); and · $250,000 for the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. The budget enables the FBI in coordination with the Department’s National Security Division and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country to further its development of a robust domestic intelligence capability and increase its ability to investigate and prevent cyber attacks and weapons of mass destruction incidents. The budget includes increases to build-out key FBI support functions, such as training and biometrics support for federal, state and local partners. Finally, the budget request contains funds to process expeditiously approximately 240 individuals currently detained at the