Governor, Congressman Seek Details On Border Security Cuts

Tue, 2016-02-09 05:00 News Staff

Ed Sterling

-Capital Highlights-

Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-McAllen, are asking U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson for detailed information regarding border security cuts.

Of particular interest to Abbott and Cuellar is the federal agency’s decision to cut resources for aerial-based border security support in a program known as Operation Phalanx. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security’s request for aerial detection, situational awareness and monitoring capability support for Operation Phalanx from the Department of Defense for calendar year 2016 was 50 percent lower than that of recent years.

The decrease came despite the governor’s Sept. 30, 2015, request for additional aerial observation resources along the border, and despite the fact that Congress fully funded Department of Defense support for Operation Phalanx in the recently passed omnibus appropriations bill, according to the governor’s office.

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EDITORIAL

http://www.coveleaderpress.com/editorial/governor-congressman-seek-details-border-security-cuts