Spending money that is designated for national security seems to come down not to what is best, but rather to political agendas or management by crisis. With the recent attack on London?s transit infrastructure, US lawmakers are now looking at the nation’s security. In October 2004, Congress provided $150 million in grant money to upgrade transit security. Bureaucratic paperwork bogged down the process, and the funds did not start flowing until April 2005. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) received $10 million to provide the nation’s rail system’s funds to beef up transit security, but as of May 31, 2005, spending reports revealed that plans were made to only utilize $711,000. Federal money was budgeted for $2 million for teams of K-9s to search rail and subway stations for explosives. The canine patrols are not in place. Rep. Bonnie G. Thompson, ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, posed the following question: ?How hard is it to spend money that?s already been allocated, especially since these security measures are so badly needed to protect America?s commuters??

Mark Hatfield, TSA spokesman, defended the House Committee criticism by stating that 56 rail inspectors have been placed, and the agency will have 100 deployed in 18 cities by the end of August. Inspectors must go through a specialized five-week training course. Hatfield also stated that the agency expects to spend all of the $2 million by the end of September for 30 K-9 teams. The teams would be comprised of a dog and a local law enforcement officer.