On October 8, 2001, in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., President George W. Bush issued an executive order creating the Office of Homeland Security (OHS). The mission of the office was to develop and coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to secure the United States from terrorist threats or attacks. The office was charged with coordinating the executive branch's efforts to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States.

The Homeland Security Council was also established by the executive order. Members of the council include the directors of the FBI, CIA, and Federal Emergency Management Agency; the attorney general; the secretaries of Defense, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Treasury; and any other officers of the ...