Homeland Security, Department of

Cabinet-level agency charged with preventing terrorist attacks on U.S. territory. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created in 2003 to coordinate the previously fragmented security apparatus of the United States. It has improved domestic intelligence and border safety, but it also has been criticized for infringing on civil liberties.

In June 2002, President George W. Bush proposed the establishment of the DHS to integrate domestic security resources under a single line of authority. The proposal reflected a change from the president's initial policy after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which was to appoint a White House coordinator for domestic security rather than establish a new cabinet-level department. However, when faced with growing questions about government intelligence lapses, President Bush proposed consolidating 22 federal agencies under one cabinet-level department.

After receiving congressional approval in 2002, the DHS began operation in January 2003 as the 15th cabinet department. Its creation represented the most radical overhaul of the U.S. government since the 1940s. The DHS brought together the Secret Service, Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and Coast Guard, among other agencies. With more than 180,000 employees, the new department was intended to eliminate duplication of effort and authority and to enforce the adoption of common standards among previously disparate security services.

Functions

The DHS has three main priorities: to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, to reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and to minimize the damage from attacks that do occur. In the event of a crisis or disaster, the DHS is expected to ensure the continuity of government operations and essential functions. The DHS partners with state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector to strengthen the nation's ability to respond to emergency situations such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters.

The DHS is responsible for coordinating access to information about potential terrorist threats. It also identifies and assesses the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and key assets within the United States. In addition, the DHS is responsible for the rapid and accurate dissemination of relevant information through public advisories and the Homeland Security Advisory System.

The department's other functions include enforcing trade and immigration laws and protecting against financial and electronic crimes, counterfeit currency, and identity theft. The department also includes the Secret Service, which is responsible for the physical safety of the president, vice president, and visiting world leaders. Finally, the DHS endeavors to improve the use of science and technology to counter weapons of mass destruction and to establish a comprehensive response-and-recovery system.

Leadership

The first head of the DHS was Tom Ridge, a former congressman and Pennsylvania governor. Before becoming DHS secretary, Ridge directed the Office of Homeland Security, established in the White House following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. As director of homeland security, Ridge developed and coordinated a comprehensive strategy against terrorist threats and attacks that formed the basis for the official National Strategy for Homeland Security. Under Ridge's leadership, the DHS was credited with improving border safety without unduly hindering the legitimate flow of people and goods.

Criticism

Despite its lofty and critical goals, the DHS has been criticized from the day of its inception. Critics charged that the reform should have incorporated the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency, two intelligence services that failed to share information about some of the September 11 terrorists.

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