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The Department of Homeland Security was created after 9/11, and although the term was used in government reports years before, it didn’t become fully operational until after the terrorist attacks in 2001.

In one sense, the Department of Homeland Security was created in response to the fact crucial information that might have averted the 9/11 attacks did not make it up the necessary channels. One of its clearest purposes is to unite the various components (governmental organizations) so that information and direction flows efficiently and effectively to prevent or respond to any terroristic activity or in the event of a natural disaster.

In September 2001, President Bush appointed Tom Ridge, governor of Pennsylvania to head what was then called the Office of Homeland Security. One year later, it became the Department of Homeland Security with a $34 billion budget and is now the federal government’s largest cabinet-level agency.

The Department of Homeland Security’s mission is to “…prevent and deter terrorist attacks and protect against and respond to threats and hazards to the nation. We will ensure safe and secure borders, welcome lawful immigrants and visitors, and promote the free-flow of commerce.”

This Department of Homeland Security’s charter also includes preparation for and response to all hazards and disasters. The Department has created a 2008 Strategic Plan with a mission to sharpen operational effectiveness, which focuses on delivering services in support of Department-wide initiatives. This process aligns the Department’s priorities and links programs and operations to performance measures, mission goals, resource priorities, and strategic objectives.

The Department of Homeland Security’s website states:

We seek to harmonize our efforts as we work diligently to accomplish our mission each and every day. Americans are a resilient people. We have overcome great adversities in the past, and we will do so again. Regardless of what challenges may come, we will work tirelessly to protect our country. In the face of national challenges, we are one Nation. And here at DHS, we are one Department, unified to ensure the security of the American people – a Department that will continue striving to protect our homeland while ensuring the strength of our economy and preserving our cherished American freedoms and liberties/ The Strategic Plan will continue to be revised as needed to guide a dynamic Department and its ever-changing requirements.

(Read the Department of Homeland Security Strategic Plan, September 16, 2008 (PDF, 44 pages - 963 KB)

To fully understand the Department of Homeland Security, it’s helpful to know the various components that fall under its umbrella.

These Department of Homeland Security Components Are:

The Directorate for National Protection and Programs works to advance the Department’s risk-reduction mission. Reducing risk requires an integrated approach that encompasses both physical and virtual threats and their associated human elements.

The Directorate for Science and Technology is the primary research and development arm of the Department. It provides federal, state and local officials with the technology and capabilities to protect the homeland.

The Directorate for Management is responsible for Department budgets and appropriations, expenditure of funds, accounting and finance, procurement; human resources, information technology systems, facilities and equipment, and the identification and tracking of performance measurements.

The Office of Policy is the primary policy formulation and coordination component for the Department of Homeland Security. It provides a centralized, coordinated focus to the development of Department-wide, long-range planning to protect the United States.

The Office of Health Affairs coordinates all medical activities of the Department of Homeland Security to ensure appropriate preparation for and response to incidents having medical significance.

The Office of Intelligence and Analysis is responsible for using information and intelligence from multiple sources to identify and assess current and future threats to the United States.

The Office of Operations Coordination is responsible for monitoring the security of the United States on a daily basis and coordinating activities within the Department and with governors, Homeland Security Advisors, law enforcement partners, and critical infrastructure operators in all 50 states and more than 50 major urban areas nationwide.

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center provides career-long training to law enforcement professionals to help them fulfill their responsibilities safely and proficiently.

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office works to enhance the nuclear detection efforts of federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local governments and the private sector and to ensure a coordinated response to such threats.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) protects the nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.

United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for protecting our nation’s borders in order to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services are responsible for the administration of immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establishing immigration services policies and priorities.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for identifying and shutting down vulnerabilities in the nation’s border, economic, transportation and infrastructure security.

The United States Coast Guard protects the public, the environment, and U.S. economic interests—in the nation’s ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region as required to support national security.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) prepares the nation for hazards, manages Federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident, and administers the National Flood Insurance Program.

The United States Secret Service protects the President and other high-level officials and investigates counterfeiting and other financial crimes, including financial institution fraud, identity theft, computer fraud; and computer-based attacks on our nation’s financial, banking, and telecommunications infrastructure.

Is “Homeland Security” helpful in keeping American people safe?
If the basic criteria for safety is that we have not had a major terroristic attack on American soil (and yes, there have been threats) since 9/11/2001, then the answer is yes.

Helpful Sites:
http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm
www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_1_1418,00.html