Sponsors (2)
The bill creates a time-limited pilot to fast-track transitioning servicemembers into Border Patrol jobs with improved transparency and interagency coordination, while creating new federal costs, potential fairness and privacy concerns, and limits on long-term evaluation unless reauthorized.
Transitioning servicemembers (including veterans) get a clear, time-bound pathway (training and consideration for Border Patrol jobs within 180 days), improving near-term employment prospects.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection can recruit candidates with military training, potentially speeding staffing of Border Patrol positions and filling mission-critical roles faster.
Interagency collaboration among DHS, DOD, and VA could improve transition support and veteran employment outcomes by coordinating training and placement efforts.
Taxpayers may incur new costs to operate the pilot and provide hiring-related training without identified offsets.
Prioritizing veterans for Border Patrol hiring could limit access for civilian applicants and reduce applicant diversity for law-enforcement roles.
Moving military personnel into law enforcement roles may require additional oversight and training to ensure civilian policing standards and protect community safety.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Creates a five-year pilot using DoD SkillBridge to train and place transitioning servicemembers into U.S. Border Patrol roles and requires annual reporting on participation.
Introduced February 18, 2025 by Richard Blumenthal · Last progress February 18, 2025
Establishes a five-year interagency pilot that uses the Department of Defense SkillBridge authority to train and place transitioning servicemembers into U.S. Border Patrol positions with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Department of Homeland Security, working with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, must set up the pilot within 180 days of enactment, collect participant data, and submit annual reports on enrollment and participant demographics until the pilot ends. The pilot relies on existing DoD SkillBridge transition authorities to provide employment-skills training and facilitate transition into Border Patrol service. The program automatically terminates five years after it is established.