Assignment:
Executive Summary
Abstract: The Department of Homeland Security was formed in 2003 to prepare and defend the United States from threats to the safety and security of the country. This document will provide an overview of the history leading to its formation, the design of its components, and the mission it was charged to complete.
Background: The terrorist attacks of 9/11 decimated the perceived safety of the citizenry of the United States. The 9/11 commission report detailed failures of the intelligence, law enforcement, and first response efforts. The Department of Homeland Security was formed to consolidate the efforts of specific federal agencies to be better prepared to disrupt, defend, and recover from major national catastrophes.
These changes to the organization of the Executive Branch were not made without a massive effort and considerable difficulty. The formation and subsequent reorganizations have brought considerable scrutiny on the department and its components.
Discussion: The mission of the Department of Homeland Security is a commitment to relentless resilience, striving to prevent future attacks against the United States and out allies, responding decisively to natural and man-made disasters, and advancing American prosperity and economic security long into the future.
The formation of an entirely new cabinet level agency within the Executive branch resulted in massive changes to other agencies within the government. The seven agencies that comprise the Department were extracted from the Departments of Defense, Interior, Defense, Treasury, and others. Outcry about the reorganization was vast and expected, as funds were diverted from existing agencies to pay for the new organization.
New agencies were formed by merging existing organizations which resulted in new, sweeping authorities and streamlined reporting. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was formed by the merger of Immigration and Naturalization Service and the investigative arm of the Customs Service. Enforcement and inspections of those respective agencies were reformed under Customs and Border Protection. United States Citizen and Immigration Service was extracted from the administrative portions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
The Coast Guard was extracted from the Department of Defense to provide resources for both response and recovery operations. The Secret Service was removed from the Department of Treasury in order to provide consistency in efforts to defend our critical components and infrastructure.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency was a consolidation of federal recovery assets that were poised to provide resiliency efforts. The first major test of their organization occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The results were abysmal and a major reorganization was ordered.
The major failure to prevent the attacks of 9/11 was blamed largely on the inability of the intelligence community to share information. Within the Department of Homeland Security, the intelligence gathering, processing, and reporting was streamlined to share information. This new platform of collaboration was not only within the department but also outside it. New task forces were formed, including efforts to partner with vetted agencies outside the borders of the United States.
Recommendation: The mission of the Department of Homeland Security is one that requires rapid change and adaptability. The separate components of the agency must remain vigilant and flexible to combat the ever changing threats to the United States. As additional threats
emerge, the Department of Homeland Security must develop new capabilities to combat them and deal with the aftermath.