About
the Department of Homeland Security
After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, by executive order the Department of Homeland
Security was created. A large number of federal agencies were reorganized and became units within the DHS.
The agencies slated to become part of the Department of Homeland Security will be housed in one of four major directorates:
Border and Transportation Security, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Science and Technology, and Information Analysis
and Infrastructure Protection.
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; 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);
Nuclear Incident Response Team (Energy)
Domestic Emergency Support Teams (Justice); 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: CBRN Countermeasures Programs (Energy); Environmental Measurements Laboratory
(Energy); National BW Defense Analysis Center (Defense); 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: 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 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.