Port representatives say US Customs and Border Protection shortfalls exacerbate congestion issue

Overseas shippers have been complaining about high pricing, a lack of available containers and difficulty in making bookings that actually come off as scheduled for some time. The issues are in part because shipping containers have been going back to Asia empty rather than being used to backhaul shipments of recyclables. But two representatives of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), Washington, point to another issue that has exacerbated the situation. 

Kristen Decas, chief executive officer of the Port of Hueneme in California, and John Wolfe, chief executive officer of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, a port authority based in the Puget Sound, speaking on behalf of members of the AAPA, met with Republicans on the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security June 30. At the meeting, Decas and Wolfe discussed ongoing challenges faced by ports regarding U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shortfalls in carrying out its inspection mission and urged Congress to help, according to a news release from the AAPA.

In their statements, Decas and Wolfe noted that ports are dedicated to their partnership with CBP, ensuring safety and security are carried out through the agency’s inspection mission. However, CBP chronically has been understaffed. According to CBP’s own Workplace Staffing Model, the agency has indicated it is short at least 1,400 officers, the AAPA representatives said. This deficit means that CBP limits the number of inspection officers deployed, creating processing delays and further contributing to port congestion.

To alleviate this bottleneck, they said, ports have been burdened with paying for overtime reimbursement to CBP officers. In addition, CBP has been increasingly making demands that ports pay for on-site facilities for CBP’s officers. These demands often include extravagant items, Decas and Wolfe added.

“Congress must fully fund and invest in CBP to ensure seaports don’t continue to bear the burden of facilitating unbearable demands,” said Rep. Carlos Gimenez, ranking member of the House Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee. “The work our seaports conduct to facilitate trade and commerce is essential to our economic recovery. Security at our ports has never been more important.”

Decas and Wolfe urged Congress to ensure that CBP is adequately staffed and that officers and resources are deployed equitably to avoid further cargo processing delays, the AAPA says. They noted that President Biden’s fiscal 2022 budget includes $660 million for land port of entry upgrades but ignores seaports. They suggested that Congress should call for an immediate halt on facilities demands at ports and require a report from CBP about their needs.

AAPA says it is working to set up a similar conversation with Committee Democrats.