Threat Level: Kangaroo

DHS Inspector General Reveals More Funding Lunacy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – One day after catastrophic terrorist attacks on commuter trains in Mumbai, India, the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revealed that America’s security-funding priorities are disastrously out of whack.  The Associated Press reports that DHS’s database of potential targets includes a “bean fest and a kangaroo conservation center,” among others. 

The inclusion of these B-list attractions, and the exclusion of all of New York’s landmarks from the Department’s list of national icons, underscores the Administration’s disturbing inability to focus resources where they are needed most.  New York and Washington, D.C. both saw their homeland security funding cut by 40 percent this year.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler released the following statement:

“The Bush Administration constantly crows about protecting us from terrorists, but when you get down to nuts and bolts, it’s clear that they have no idea what they’re doing.  First they cut funding for New York by 40 percent.  Then they declare that New York contains no national landmarks or icons.  And now we learn that they are designating bean festivals and insect zoos as key targets.

Just yesterday, terrorists killed more than 180 people by attacking the mass transit system in Mumbai.  You’d better believe that every one of the 4 million subway riders in New York took a deep breath before getting on the train this morning.  They know that when terrorists strike, they go after high-density, high-profile targets.  Evidently, this has yet to dawn on the Department of Homeland Security.  Their ignorance is disgusting.

There is no excuse for shortchanging this country’s top targets.  As the Inspector General wisely determined, folksy appeal cannot be the chief criterion for the allocation of our terror funding.  This Administration must open its eyes to reality and put our resources where they’re really needed before we have another catastrophe on our hands.”