Measure expedites CBP hiring process

Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently introduced the Anti-Border Corruption Improvement Act, which she said is designed to quicken the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hiring process.

McSally said the bill eliminates the polygraph test, which officials said is a requirement in the CBP hiring process, noting the exemption specifically applies to applicants with military or law enforcement backgrounds and would simplify an 11-step hiring process averaging between 274 days for agents and 318 days for officers.

“The men and women of Customs and Border Protection are some of the finest law enforcement professionals –  but unfortunately there are simply not enough agents and officers to get the job done,” McSally said. “We need to streamline the hiring process while maintaining the same rigorous standards to get the additional help to our frontlines.”

McSally said polygraph tests cost an average of more than $2,000, noting with only one in every three applicants hired, translates to an average of more than $6,000 per CBP hire.  

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Our Customs and Border Protection agents are drastically undermanned, and this bill aims to help fix that,” Crenshaw said. “By eliminating the unnecessary and costly polygraph test for vetted applicants with military and law enforcement backgrounds, this legislation quickens the hiring process and eases the burden on applicants, CBP recruitment efforts, and the taxpayer.”