WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), representing over 130 public port agencies across the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, is sounding the alarm about a growing crisis at U.S. ports: severe staffing shortages at Customs and Border Protection (CBP). As maritime trade volumes continue to surge, ports are struggling with cargo delays, increased costs, and growing security risks. The AAPA is urging Congress and CBP to take immediate action to address this critical issue that threatens both trade security and operational efficiency.
Trade Surge Meets Staffing Stagnation: A Perfect Storm
U.S. ports have experienced unprecedented trade growth in recent years, with container volumes reaching record highs. This surge has placed tremendous pressure on port infrastructure and operations – pressure that's being exacerbated by stagnant CBP staffing levels. The AAPA emphasizes that CBP's understaffing at ports has reached critical levels, jeopardizing America's competitiveness in the global economy.
"Our ports are the lifeline of national commerce, but they're being hamstrung by CBP staffing shortages," said Christopher Connor, AAPA President and CEO. "Trade volumes are booming, but CBP is struggling to keep pace. This leads to delays, increased costs, and security vulnerabilities that could have devastating impacts on both our economy and national security."
The association highlights that CBP must ensure adequate, timely deployment of resources at U.S. ports to maximize both security and efficiency of the port system. Failure to address staffing shortages could have far-reaching consequences for the U.S. economy, including:
Delivery Delays
Insufficient CBP personnel leads to bottlenecks in cargo inspection and clearance processes, causing shipment delays, production disruptions, and customer dissatisfaction.
Increased Costs
Delays generate additional expenses including demurrage fees, storage costs, and transportation charges that ultimately get passed along to consumers.
Security Risks
Understaffing increases vulnerabilities to smuggling, terrorism, and other illegal activities that threaten national security.
Competitiveness Erosion
U.S. ports risk losing business to more efficient foreign competitors, damaging America's trade position.
Resource Mismanagement and Hiring Challenges
The AAPA notes that CBP's staffing shortage isn't simply about inadequate personnel numbers, but also about resource allocation problems and recruitment difficulties. While CBP received funding for 2,000 new positions in FY2015, seaports received a disproportionately small share – just 1% of the total. This severe imbalance leaves ports struggling to handle growing trade volumes and security threats.
Compounding the problem are significant hiring obstacles:
High Attrition Rates
CBP applicants face a 68% failure rate in various tests, particularly polygraph examinations, dramatically reducing hiring efficiency. This alarming attrition rate raises questions about the effectiveness and fairness of CBP's hiring process.
Prolonged Hiring Timelines
Even when applications proceed smoothly, the hiring-to-placement process takes over a year, preventing rapid vacancy filling.
Personnel Misallocation
New CBP hires are frequently assigned to the southern border rather than understaffed seaports, creating critical shortages where trade volumes are heaviest.
Ports in Crisis: Balancing Security and Efficiency
As the frontline of America's freight network, U.S. ports handle trillions in commerce annually. In 2016 alone, they processed approximately 1.3 billion tons of foreign trade cargo, plus over 11 million shipping containers and 11 million international passengers. Continued trade growth and cyclical shipping peaks create recurring bottlenecks in cargo inspection and clearance processes.
Ports face the daunting challenge of balancing CBP staffing shortages against security threats and commercial demands. Understaffing increases vulnerabilities to smuggling and terrorism while simultaneously straining efforts to meet shipper and consumer expectations for timely deliveries.
AAPA Recommendations: Multifaceted Solutions
The AAPA proposes a comprehensive approach to resolving CBP staffing shortages:
Increased Budget Appropriations
Working with Congress to secure additional funding through annual appropriations processes, including continuing resolutions, omnibus bills, or infrastructure packages.
Revised Staffing Models
Adapting CBP's deployment formulas to reflect modern trade realities including mega-ship calls and cargo surges.
Flexible Resource Allocation
Creating mechanisms to dynamically shift personnel to high-need ports as demand requires.
Streamlined Hiring
Simplifying recruitment processes to improve efficiency and reduce attrition rates.
Industry Perspective: Protecting Trade and Competitiveness
John Young, AAPA's Director of Intermodal and Surface Transportation Policy and Legislative Affairs, emphasized that CBP requires adequate resources to fulfill its mission. He noted that ports compete fiercely for business, requiring strong infrastructure, market access, and efficient cargo processing. If CBP cannot perform effectively, or if security concerns emerge, ports lose competitive advantage.
"Our ports are critical hubs in global commerce, playing a vital role in ensuring America's economic prosperity," Young stated. "We must ensure CBP has the resources needed to perform its duties so our ports can continue operating safely and efficiently."
Potential Solution: Leveraging Military Veterans
Young suggested recruiting veterans could help address CBP staffing needs. Their skills and experience make them ideal candidates for port operations. In some cases, they might bypass polygraph requirements and remain at ports rather than being deployed to border areas.
"Our veterans represent a national asset with precisely the skills and experience CBP needs," Young said. "Hiring veterans would help address staffing shortages while providing meaningful employment opportunities."
Path Forward: Collaborative Solutions
Resolving CBP staffing shortages requires coordinated efforts between Congress, CBP, and port authorities. Through increased funding, optimized staffing models, streamlined hiring, and flexible resource allocation, ports can reduce pressure on operations while maintaining trade security and efficiency – ultimately strengthening America's global competitiveness.
The AAPA remains committed to working with all stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions ensuring U.S. ports continue serving as secure, efficient gateways supporting national economic prosperity.