S. 2248 would require Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to establish a four-year pilot program to use data analytics to identify vessels evading sanctions. Specifically, the goal of the program would be to identify vessels that disable or manipulate their Automatic Identification System—a transponder that broadcasts identification, location, and navigation information—and provide actionable intelligence to federal law enforcement agencies. S. 2248 also would require CBP to report to the Congress on the effectiveness of the pilot.
CBP currently carries out some of the activities required by the bill. Using information from the agency, CBO estimates that CBP would need five employees as well as $1 million for contracting costs in each year of the pilot to expand its data analysis and intelligence systems. In total, CBO estimates that implementing S. 2248 would cost $8 million over the 2024-2028 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
