With sequestration cuts now in effect, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar issued guidance over the weekend about CBP’s revised operations. Like many other government agencies, CBP will be required to significantly reduce expenses during the remainder of 2013. In preparation for operating under sequestration, CBP has redirected resources toward only its most critical, core functions, and has discontinued or postponed certain important but less critical activities in an effort to reduce budget expenditures.

CBP has announced the sequestration cuts will be made equally across the agency, with no preference by port of arrival. The first, immediate cuts will reduce overtime beginning March 1, and personnel furloughs may begin in mid-April. It is estimated that CBP must reduce its work hours by the equivalent of over 5,000 border patrol agents and the equivalent of over 2,750 CBP officers.

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