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Mo' Drones Mo' Problems: Drone Program Bleeds Agency Dry

Gov't buys more drones, but can't afford to patrol borders with them

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by PolitixMayday

Staff Writer t

"Recon? No, we use this one to deliver pizza." / Image: AP

The Homeland Security Department's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency apparently possesses so many drones it can't keep them all flying, according to the Washington Times. The Department's inspector general also found that the border agency doesn't have enough ground support for the planes, or a plan for missions. What to do after realizing this? Order more drones, of course.
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Should money be redirected to support Homeland Security's drone border patrol?

Comments (view in Forum)

  • Truthinesss
    !
    I agree that they should budget better, but I could think of a few programs that I wouldn't care if they were eliminated and funds sent to this....
  • AlexanderKM
    !
    Just fire the lot of 'em and start completely fresh. I'll take the risks inherent for the long term goal of a gov't agency with sense. Too bad that solution would last a decade or two tops...
  • Liarz
    !
    Blessings to you for the sentiments Alex :) However MOST government employees truly want to do right. I speak from experience.
  • u
    num1capitalist
    !
    The Department of Homeland Security isn't going to get any major increases because of their drone budget issue. If they want to internally redirect money they can but no extra amount of the taxpayers' money is going towards drones
  • o
    Stratton
    !
    Congratulations, Michael. I believe you are the first to apply the lyrical philosophy of Biggie Smalls (aka Notorious B.I.G.) to the budgetary woes of the Department of Homeland Security.
  • Bobolinsky
    !
    My guess is that this poor budgeting can be traced to the 2009 budget passed by a Pelosi led House and and the Reid led filibuster proof Senate.
    .
    How fortunate that ICE doesn't have the funds to use all those drones (probably also traceable to the 2009 budget). That will save money for other DHS agencies that DO have the funds like the TSA. Or maybe the Treasury can find something for ATF to do with them. The EPA could probably use a few more. Heck let's send a few over to Agriculture. I'm sure they'd like that capability. Last but not least of course is the Justice Department. They have an alphabet soup of agencies that would love a few more drones.
    .
    And for all of you paranoids out there... don't worry, the government assures us that none of them are armed.
  • Decent-Dissent
    !
    Fact: our war machine gets more money than the rest of the world combined.   
    “You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.”-EIN friggin STEIN