Bureau of Diplomatic Security Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Request

• The successful defense of the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which proved remarkably resistant to a heinous terrorist attack.. Despite repeated attempts, the terrorists were not able to penetrate the consulate building, where the vast majority of our employees remained safe;
  
• We conducted more than 1,200 investigations and made over 225 arrests for passport and visa fraud so far this calendar year;
  
• We implemented an extensive security framework that allowed Embassy Baghdad and the Regional Embassy Offices to open safely.
  
• We deployed DS personnel to high-threat environments such as Sudan, Kenya, and Haiti, and Gaza. We put in place the security personnel, equipment, and procedures that allowed the Department to open a U.S. Interests Section in Tripoli, Libya.
  
• Finally, Diplomatic Security  worked for over two years to coordinate security for the Athens 2004 summer Olympics. During the games, DS special agents protected the U.S. athletes, and staffed security coordination centers. For the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, a DS Olympic Security Coordinator is already consulting with the Italian Government to coordinate security preparations.

FY 2006 Request
For FY 2006, the President requests $689.5 million, an increase of $39.6 million (6 percent) over the FY 2005 level, to maintain security programs in the face of an increased terrorist threat. Security is an on-going effort, especially as the potential for large-scale terrorist attacks and continued physical and technological attacks remains at an historic high. Diplomatic Security manages a broad range of programs to create and maintain the appropriate level of security for more than 57,000 U.S. Government personnel, staff, and dependents who work and live at approximately 260 embassies, consulates, and other missions overseas.

Funding will:

• Strengthen and expand security programs and high-threat protection capabilities;
  
• Allow the continuation of programs to maintain our security equipment and technical support, information and systems security, perimeter security, and security training;
  
• Continue defensive countermeasures that lessen our vulnerability to global terrorist threats, thwart attacks, and mitigate their effects;
  
• Strengthen the counterintelligence program by ensuring that reinvestigations of all Department of State employees are completed. Through improved efficiency, the Department has been able to reduce by half the time required to complete the clearances. The DS average of four months compares very favorably to other U.S. agencies that issue clearances;
  
• Strengthen information security countermeasures to provide protection from increasingly sophisticated threats targeted at information technology and PC-based technical security systems; and
  
• Enhance procedural security programs essential for the protection of classified information.

To keep up with increasing demands, the Department requests your support to help us protect those we serve. The FY 2006 request will support an increase of 55 security personnel and $39.6 million to strengthen security programs domestically and overseas and include the following:

• In response to the rise in the number of emergencies overseas, we are requesting 13 additional Mobile Security Deployment team personnel and $1.4 million.
  
• A High Threat Protection Program was developed in response to increasing terrorist threat situations in which highly skilled special agents are required to protect designated U.S. personnel and certain foreign government leaders in very dangerous situations. This request asks for three more personnel and $1.2 million to provide increased oversight over the program as well as additional training for our agents.
  
• The Department requests 25 additional special agent positions and $2.6 million for our domestic field offices. These agents are essential to maintaining a viable investigative program in support of U.S. Government border security and counterterrorism programs
  
• The Department requests an additional 14 special agents and $1.5 million for protective intelligence investigations as part of the U.S. Government’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces. These task forces represent the kind of interagency collaboration called for in the 9/11 Commission report and other advisory commission reviews.
  
• In addition to these programmatic increases, the Department is requesting $32.9 million to meet wage and price increase requirements.