Reductions Needed in the Number of Customs Regions and Districts: Organizational Alternatives

The U.S. Customs Service was created by the Congress in 1789 to collect duties on imports. Over the years it has been given additional responsibilities that include the control of: terrorism, international trafficking in controlled substances, arms, currency, and threats to public health. Customs has approximately 11,500 employees assigned to over 300 offices in the United States and other employees at overseas locations. These offices are linked through four organizational levels or tiers, a basic organizational arrangement which was established in a major reorganization in 1965 and 1966.