The United States Homeland Security Policy: A Dossier

Other Resources

U.S. Government Links

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security: The creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the most significant transformation of the U.S. government since 1947, when Harry S. Truman merged the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces into the Department of Defense to better coordinate the nation's defense against military threats.
  • Organization: Department Components
  • Who is who - leadership
• The Rule of Law: America's War on Terrorism: webpage on the legal basis for US actions in Afghanistan, International Information Programs, U.S.  Dept of State.
• Department of Homeland Security Act before Congress
• White House: Issues in Focus - Homeland Security Immediately following the tragic events of September 11, departments and agencies from across the federal government took steps to strengthen the safety and security of the American people. At the Federal level, a total of $10.6 billion from the Fiscal Year 2002 Emergency Budget Supplemental was dedicated to homeland security. The challenge is large, and much more remains to be done, but the foundation for a stronger, more secure America has been put in place
   
• Freedom of Information Act Guide, May 2004

The agencies slated to become part of the Department of Homeland Security will be housed in one of four major directorates:

The Border and Transportation Security directorate will bring the major border security and transportation operations under one roof, including:

• The U.S. Customs Service (Treasury)
• The Immigration and Naturalization Service (part) (Justice)
• The Federal Protective Service (GSA)
• The Transportation Security Administration (Transportation)
• Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (Treasury)
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (part)(Agriculture)
• Office for Domestic Preparedness (Justice)

The Emergency Preparedness and Response directorate will oversee domestic disaster preparedness training and coordinate government disaster response. It will bring together:

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Strategic National Stockpile and the National Disaster Medical System (HHS)
• National Domestic Preparedness Office (FBI)

The Science and Technology directorate will seek to utilize all scientific and technological advantages when securing the homeland. The following assets will be part of this effort:

• Plum Island Animal Disease Center (Agriculture)

The Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection directorate will analyze intelligence and information from other agencies (including the CIA, FBI, DIA and NSA) involving threats to homeland security and evaluate vulnerabilities in the nation's infrastructure. It will bring together:

• Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office (Commerce)
• Federal Computer Incident Response Center (GSA)
• National Communications System (Defense)
• National Infrastructure Protection Center (FBI)
• Energy Security and Assurance Program (Energy)

The Secret Service and the Coast Guard will also be located in the Department of Homeland Security, remaining intact and reporting directly to the Secretary. In addition, the INS adjudications and benefits programs will report directly to the Deputy Secretary as the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Non - U.S. Government Links

• EU anti-terrorism policy
  Dossier on the response of the EU to the threat of international terrorism.
• September 11 Attacks: The European Union Broad Response Following the attacks of 11 September, the European Union is acting on all fronts and in complete solidarity with the government of the United States and the American people, in the international campaign to eradicate terrorism.
• Juridat The portal for Belgians judicial System
• Europol - the European Police Office. Europol is the European Law Enforcement Organization which aims at improving the effectiveness and co-operation of the competent authorities in the Member States in preventing and combating terrorism, unlawful drug trafficking and other serious forms of international organized crime.
• Interpol’s involvement in the fight against international terrorism
• United Nations Action Against Terrorism
• Chilling Effects of Anti-Terrorism: "National Security" Toll on Freedom of Expression. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is an organization dedicated to "educate the press, policymakers and the general public about civil liberties issues related to technology; and to act as a defender of those liberties." On the page Chilling Effects of Anti- Terrorism, the EFF (in part) tracks Websites shut down by the US government, other governments, and Internet service providers because the material they contained was deemed "questionable." The site, which is continually being updated, also offers several other examples of the September 11 attacks' effects on Web information availability.
• GAO Reports on Terrorism
• GAO Reports on Airport Security: The General Accounting Office (GAO) has posted these two pages of "special collections" of use to those following the news about terrorism and airport security measures.
• Journal of Homeland Security