The House and Senate agree on many of the national security-related agencies that should receive stimulus funding. The Defense Department gets billions for military facilities and renewable energy research, the Department of Homeland Security hundreds of millions for TSA aviation security, and NASA and NOAA about half a billion for a fancy satellite. But the Senate addded money for a couple of controversial programs that may raise eyebrows when its bill hits the floor next week.
First there's the $1 billion for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, our nuclear arsenal's caretaker. The vast majority would go to "maintenance and general plant project backlogs, other construction activities and various energy projects throughout the weapons complex." This item appeared in the first draft of the Senate bill last fall and was purportedly inserted by Senator John Kyl (R-AZ), who has advocated for more spending on new nuclear programs such as the Reliable Replacement Warhead—a program Congress has repeatedly killed.
Then there's the $200 million for border security fencing, infrastructure and technology. Previous drafts of the Senate version only included money for construction and security at ports of entry, as does the House version of the bill. Though it's not clear whether the money is for construction of the pedestrian or "virtual" fence, both are mired in cost overruns. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano at her nomination hearing this month criticized the pedestrian fence, which has already doubled in cost since construction began.
Considering the controversy around increased spending on the weapons complex and border fence, these passages of the legislation should raise some flags over its shovel-readiness.
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