Access Control
& Security Systems

The Organization of the Department of Homeland Security

President Bush urged Congress to create a Cabinet-level department of Homeland Security in an address to the nation on June 6. The Chief Executive does not have the power to create the department himself. "We face an urgent need, and we must move quickly, this year, before the end of the congressional session," he said.

The President said if his plan is executed, it would be the greatest reorganization of power since Harry "Truman proposed the National Security Council in 1947. "Truman's reforms are still helping us to fight terror abroad, and now we need similar dramatic reforms to secure our people at home," he said.

The proposed Department of Homeland Security would be organized into four divisions:

-- Border and transportation security;

-- Emergency preparedness and response;

-- Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear countermeasures; and

-- Information analysis and infrastructure protection

The major duties of the proposed Department of Homeland Security include:

-- Securing borders, the transportation sector, ports, and critical infrastructure;

-- Synthesizing and analysis of homeland security intelligence from multiple sources;

-- Coordination of communications with state and local governments, private industry and the American people about threats and preparedness;

-- Protecting America against bioterrorism and other weapons of mass destruction;

-- Training and equipping first responders;

-- Management of federal emergency response activities;

-- Supplying more security officers in the field working to stop terrorism; and

-- Ensuring fewer resources in Washington are used redundantly.

Intelligence and Threat Analysis

The Department would fuse and analyze intelligence and other information pertaining to threats to the homeland from multiple sources – including the CIA, NSA, FBI, INS, DEA, DOE, Customs, DOT and data gleaned from other organizations. The Department would merge under one roof, with the capability to identify and assess current and future threats to the homeland, map those threats against our current vulnerabilities, issue timely warnings and immediately take or effect appropriate preventive and protective action. An important partner with the Department’s intelligence and threat analysis division will be the newly formed FBI Office of Intelligence. The new FBI and CIA reforms will provide critical analysis and information to the new Department.

A look at some of the agencies that would comprise the Department of Homeland Security:

CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR COUNTERMEASURES

Civilian Biodefense Research Programs (HHS)

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (DOE)

National BW Defense Analysis Center (New)

Plum Island Animal Disease Center (USDA)

INFORMATION ANALYSIS AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office (Commerce)

Federal Computer Incident Response Center (GSA)

National Communications System (DoD)

National Infrastructure Protection Center (FBI)

National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center (DOE)

BORDER AND TRANSPORTATION SECURITY

Immigration and Naturalization Service (DOJ)

Customs Service (Treasury)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA) Coast Guard (DOT)

Federal Protective Services (GSA)

Transportation Security Agency (DOT)

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Assets (HHS)

Domestic Emergency Support Team

Nuclear Incident Response (DOE)

Office of Domestic Preparedness (DOJ)

National Domestic Preparedness Office (FBI)

Secret Service (Treasury)

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• Electronic Pedigrees
• One Hero Among Many
• Who? What? When? Where? Why?
• More from September's issue