Veterans Border Patrol Training Act

HR 8652, the Veterans Border Patrol Training Act, creates a 5-year pilot program to train and hire transitioning U.S. military service members and veterans as U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents. The program, established within 180 days of enactment, uses the existing Department of Defense SkillBridge Program (under 10 U.S.C. § 1143) to transition service members into Border Patrol roles, requiring collaboration between Homeland Security, Defense, and Veterans Affairs. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress tracking participation statistics, including breakdowns by military status (active duty, reserve, officers, enlisted, veterans, spouses, dependents). It does not change existing hiring rules but provides a dedicated pathway for military-connected individuals to enter Border Patrol service. The program automatically terminates after five years.