Northern Border Security and Staffing Reform Act

This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security to publish a yearly report on northern border security and to update its threat analysis to focus on staffing at ports of entry. It responds to a nationwide shortage of about 5,800 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and a projected surge in retirements that will hit the northern border especially hard, due in part to tough winter weather, isolated locations, and limited housing near many ports. The goal is to prevent understaffing that could harm safety and slow travel and trade.

The updated analysis must track how many officers and agents are on the northern border versus how many are needed, plan for retirement waves, identify housing challenges, and build local recruiting plans to hire people from nearby communities. It also requires DHS to consider tools like direct hiring, hiring and retention bonuses, extra pay options, and student loan repayment to fill jobs and keep staff. Congress urges CBP to start a hiring surge at northern ports of entry to get ahead of the coming retirement surge.

• Who is affected: CBP officers and agents on the northern border, nearby communities, and travelers and businesses that rely on ports of entry.
• What changes: Annual DHS report; expanded threat analysis covering staffing needs, retirement planning, housing, and local recruiting; consideration of hiring and retention tools like bonuses and student loan help.
• When: Reports would be annual; the planning is aimed at near-term retirements expected in 2028.