Ridge asks for private sector help with port security

Apr 15, 2004 1:08 PM

The federal government cannot afford to pay for the increased security needed to protect U.S. ports from terrorists, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said last week. "We need to talk to the private sector," Ridge says. "We don't have enough public money to do everything that needs to be done." Ports and shipping companies are facing a July 1 deadline to have security programs in place for their docks and vessels or face potential fines. The programs are based on regulations developed by the Homeland Security Department and the Coast Guard under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. The federal government plans to spend nearly $3 billion on security programs this year, but Ridge told The Associated Press that "we can't go around using public money for every private sector need."

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