Coast Guard tapped for Capitol air security role

Coast Guard's dual role cited
One reason for offering the job to the Coast Guard is its dual role as a law enforcement and  military organization.  For example, the Coast Guard's responsibilities include U.S. port secuity and drug interdiction missions as well as supporting military operations; some of its assets were pressed into duty during the last Gulf War. 

Currently, the Customs aircraft operate only in a law enforcement mode and are responsible for intercepting and trying to warn off errant civilian aircraft before they stray too close to White House airspace. In a crisis situation, as on May 11, the military ultimately takes over air security and would be responsible for shooting down any aircraft. 

The Coast Guard's dual role would theoretically make it easier to take hostile action against an intruder. However, one DHS source questioned that notion, saying that the Customs Black Hawks could, if ordered, also fire on an errant plane.

Several DHS sources, including former Black Hawk crew members, questioned whether the Coast Guard, whose aircraft are primarily used in support of its maritime mission, is up to the job.

“The Coast Guard often decries the fact that they don’t have enough money to upgrade their equipment; now they want to take on a new mission which they haven’t trained for and don’t have a budget to support?” said one DHS source.

Modernization program
Last year the Coast Guard's Collins told Congress that his No. 1 priority was to modernize the agency's aging and technologically obsolete aircraft, boats and cutters. "Our legacy systems are wearing out at a much faster rate then their current rate of replacement," he said at the time. "From my perspective, this is the greatest threat to continued mission performance."

On Thursday, Collins will give Congress a progress report on upgrading the agency's fleet.

The changing security roles come at a time when Customs and Border Protection itself is moving to consolidate its aviation resources under one office “in what will be the largest federal air force outside of the Department of Defense,” said CBP Commissioner Bonner in an internal e-mail announcing the consolidation plan; the e-mail was obtained by MSNBC.com on Friday.

The consolidation will create what Bonner calls “CPB Air.” The consolidation begins immediately and will be complete by Oct. 1, Bonner’s e-mail says.

The e-mail makes no mention of relinquishing agency airspace security role in Washington to the Coast Guard.

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