United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2002-03-19 monographic deposited born digital 19 p. GA 1.13:GAO-02-538T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-538T P0b002ee1803a23ca f:d02538t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-538T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-538T GAO-02-538T Agency missions Budget functions Counterterrorism National defense operations Planning programming budgeting Coast Guard Deepwater Project Coast Guard National Distress System Coast Guard Operation Neptune Shield Coast Guard Sea Marshal Program Testimony A02905 Like many federal agencies, the Coast Guard's priorities were dramatically altered by the events of September 11, 2001. Its fiscal year 2003 budget request of $7.3 billion is a 36 percent increase from the previous year, with an increased emphasis on homeland security. At the same time, the Coast Guard has other responsibilities, ranging from boater safety to icebreaking. The events of September 11th caused a substantial shift of effort toward homeland security and away from other missions. As resources were shifted to meet these needs, the law enforcement mission area, which consists mainly of drug and migrant interdiction and fisheries enforcement, saw a dramatic drop in mission capability. The Coast Guard's fiscal year 2003 budget request reflects an attempt to maintain and enhance heightened levels of funding for homeland security while also increasing funding for all other Coast Guard missions beyond fiscal year 2002 levels. The Coast Guard faces substantial management challenges in translating its requested funding increases into increased service levels in its key mission areas. For example, workforce issues present a daunting challenge. If the FY 2003 budget request is approved, the Coast Guard will add 2,200 full-time positions, retain and build on the expertise and skills of its current workforce, and deal with already high attrition rates and looming civilian retirements. Further, the Coast Guard has not yet determined the long term level of security required to protect the nation's major ports. These challenges mean that in the short term giving the Coast Guard additional funding does not immediately translate into an increased ability to carry out its missions. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-538T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-538T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-538T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-538T.pdf GAO-02-538T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-538T Testimony GAO-02-538T; Coast Guard: Budget and Management Challenges for 2003 and Beyond; Agency missions Budget functions Counterterrorism National defense operations Planning programming budgeting Coast Guard Deepwater Project Coast Guard National Distress System Coast Guard Operation Neptune Shield Coast Guard Sea Marshal Program