Term Paper – DHS

Introduction

 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is made up of federal departments and agencies that play wide-ranging duties including protecting the nation against threats. It is important to understand that in the 1990s, there were significant terrorist incidents such as the World Trade Centre bombing, Olympic Bombing, among other incidents. The American public recognized that the cold war gave rise to the transnational terrorism where the disaffected groups were interested in mass destruction. During this period, the United State did not have a good strategy to combat terrorism and for this reason, there were many proposals including forming a centralized policy, strengthening the existing institutions, and establishing federal agencies. However, it is important to understand that these proposals were not related to counterterrorism.  Therefore, President Bush established an office of Homeland Security and it was responsible in coordinating terrorism. The Congress proposed the formation of a new federal agency that could offer counterterrorist efforts.  The Bush administration sponsored these proposals and in 2002, the Homeland Security Act was approved. The establishment of the new department was the most significant restructuring of the federal agencies in that the Department of Homeland Security has 22 government agencies that is in a single organization and that is in charge of various roles and responsibilities. 

 

Changes in homeland security since its inception

 Since 2001, the DHS has changed in a remarkable way as it has given rise to national security. Johnson & Hunter (2017) assert that during the September 11th attack, the state and local law enforcement agencies did not offer an effective response to the attack due to failure to define their roles, lack of a unifying strategy, and lack of funding.  However, after the September attack, the period that followed was referred to as a new policing era since, at this time, the law enforcement agencies focused on shifting from traditional approaches to new approaches that would focus on analyzing and deterring local crimes, , target-oriented strategies,  and  offer proactive responses  (Johnson & Hunter, 2017).   When the homeland security was developed, the state and local law enforcement agencies acted as the first terrorist since they are close to their communities, and that they would effectively engage in counterterrorism activities.  The state and local agencies improved their homeland security activities with the help of the National Strategy (Johnson & Hunter, 2017).  The latter came up with recommendation activities that the agencies would follow. They include; 

 National incident management system (NIMS)

            The Bush administration established management systems to homeland security for the purpose of managing domestic incidents.  It established the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5) and its primary responsibility was to create a National Response Plan and incident management system (Johnson & Hunter, 2017).  The purpose of these initiatives was to come up with a standardized method which the state and local agencies would use to respond to terrorist events.  The HSPD-5 forms a single management system that enables all level of government to work efficiently together in prevention, and preparation.

 

 All-hazard plan

 Since the 9/11 attacks, the DHS has changed in that the National Strategy for Homeland Security recommended that all states should have a hazards plan or in other words they should identify all events, how they will occur, and the operations plans (Johnson  & Hunter, 2017).   This approach was created toward emergency preparedness and the primary aim was to mobilize the government agency, the families, as well as the business to come up with a preparedness plan which includes resources and protocols.  All-hazard approach means that the responsible agencies should classify the hazards that damage the environment, the properties, and hazards that cause injury (Johnson & Hunter, 2017). This would help the management agency to provide an effective response, aid in recovery, and cooperate with the Federal Government in managing terrorism.

 Agency mission statement

 The National Security for Homeland Security recommended that the agency should create goals and objectives to communicate the homeland security activities so that the employees, as well as the stakeholders, can understand the primary activities, as a result, create unanimity of purpose (Johnson & Hunter, 2017). The goals and objectives would allow the agency to allocate resources,   and provide purpose and direction.

 

 Intelligence gathering

            The DHS has improved in that it formed intelligence units that use intelligence gathering for investigative functions.   The intelligence gathering helps the agency to gather information concerning crimes and the information helps the agency keep the homeland safe (Johnson & Hunter, 2017).  It is important to understand that prior to 9/11, there was a difference between domestic intelligence and foreign intelligence.  Today,  there is no difference since terrorist threats both in local and outside the country are considered as national security threats and this means that foreign intelligence play a significant role in preventing local threats and vice versa.

 

 Mutual aid

            The DHS has changed in that today, the U.S law enforcement is decentralized and this means that there is a mutual aid agreement between agencies.  All agencies share resources that aid them in gathering information and responding to terrorist attacks (Johnson & Hunter, 2017).  Note that terrorist employs high explosive weapons and this means that the agencies need specialized resources and a high level of preparedness in order to improve the response.  Today, the mutual aid agreements allow the state and local to meet the challenges by using specialized resources.

 

 NGO partnerships

 Today, homeland security has formed an effective partnership with NGOs and as a result, the law enforcement agencies, as well as the NGOs, perform critical functions using adequate resources (Johnson & Hunter, 2017).  They coordinate in providing critical services such as food, water, communications, and other services.

 

The relationships between the DHS and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies

  Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have strengthened homeland security.  Today, the DHS does not work alone but it partners with many departments and agencies including federal, state and local leaders, private sector, and community-based organizations.  Since 9/11, law enforcement, the intelligence agencies, and the DHS have worked collaboratively to prevent criminal activities. These agencies form an information sharing environment where they shape policy, address technical and legal issues, and develop strategic ways to combat terrorists (Bean, 2009). Over the years, the Intelligence Community is made up of both intelligence and military agencies and their primary role is to conduct intelligence activities.  The agencies are controlled by the office of National Intelligence and the office ensures that the agencies maintain homeland security and employ the counterterrorism strategy to combat terrorism.  The Intelligence Community play a significant role in the U.S by ensuring the security of citizens, supporting the  DHS,  supporting the office of Intelligence and Analysis,   and delivering intelligence to other partners (Bean, 2009).  Focusing on the Department of Homeland Security, its mission is to maintain security through prevention, and protection.  As a cabinet department, it established the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act and the National Counterterrorism Center. This means that DHS is made up of many elements that work together to maximize national security. Other agencies such as the FBI, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Central Intelligence Agency are not part of the DHS but they work together to maintain homeland security (Bean, 2009).  For instance, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is the main law enforcement agency and since 9/11, it has expanded its role as a counterterrorism force.  It strengthens the Department of Homeland Security through allocating resources to the employee. Today, it pays greater attention to investigating terrorist attacks and preempting them.  Counterterrorism and counterintelligence are the core work of the agency which aims at protecting the nation against catastrophic terrorist attack (Bean, 2009).  It is important to understand that the main aim strategy of homeland security is information sharing. It focuses on building a trusted partnership where various agencies share information toward ensuring national security.  The Department of Justice works with the DHS to provide information-sharing systems and preparedness efforts.

The current structure of the DHS

            After the September 11 attack, President Bush established an organizational structure.  He created an office of Homeland Security, the Homeland Security Council, and selected Tom Ridge as the head of the office (Sandler & Enders, 2011).  During its initial formation, the DHS' roles were categorized into security and investigations, preparedness and recovery, training and development, and management and operations. However, the DHS was reorganized since the initial structure was not effective and as a result, other compatible components were formed (Sandler & Enders, 2011).  The following is the current structure of the DHS;

 

• Departmental Management and Operations- it manages the Department of Homeland Security and its offices.
• Analysis and Operations- it works with other DHS components, state and local departments, and the intelligence community in gathering information.
• Office of the Inspector General- it conducts internal fairs in the inspections and investigation units.
• Us Customs and Border Protection- it provides border security.
• US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-ICE works together with the law enforcement agencies in keeping America safe through removing terrorists, illegal immigrants, and nuclear materials from the US (Sandler & Enders, 2011).
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA) - it ensures that the US transportation system is safe. It conducts risk management and employs technologies to counter terrorists' efforts.
• US Coast Guard- the role of this armed service is to protect the US maritime interest and the marine environment through conducting drug interdiction, and search-and-rescue mission (Sandler & Enders, 2011).
• US Secret Service- this is a mission agency whose role is to protect the US leadership and protects the US against the currency counterfeit.
• National Protection and Program Directorate-it play a significant role in protecting the US infrastructure such as the communication systems (Sandler & Enders, 2011). It conducts risk assessment and management, provides effective measures to threats, and aids in recovery.
• Office of Health Affairs- it provides biodefense and biosurveillance to the DHS.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency-FEMA acts as a government agency in coordinating response efforts to disaster.
• Science and Technology Directorate- this play an important role in providing the DHS with the current knowledge and equipment that are effective in addressing natural threats.  It works with the research centers to conduct research concerning the aspects of terrorism (Sandler & Enders, 2011).

 

Changes to the current structure of the DHS

            The structure of the DHS play a significant role in promoting greater security standards. However, other aspects need improvement in order to do its job effectively. First, the current structure has a decentralized power and makes a weak structure. For example, each component has its power and congressional outreach offices and this does not bring operational effectiveness due to lack of cohesiveness (Sandler & Enders, 2011).  It is important for the departments to work as a cohesive whole to improve effectiveness and efficiency.   The second reform should be on the Department of Science and Technology Directorate.  The department should improve its operations by setting aside more time and resources on long-term research about the useable technology that can benefit other DHS components (Sandler & Enders, 2011). The third reform should be on the National Protection and Program Directorate.  Note that this department protects the cyber-networks and it should improve its practices through working together with the private sector and government agencies to combat the rapidly increasing cyberspace threats.

Challenges of homeland security that the United States needs to address

 The top characteristics that the US need to address are coordinating the homeland security department, implementing the management functions, and managing risks in a strategic way (Painter, 2017). First, the US should address the issue of leadership and coordination  and promote effective partnership with other agencies and private sectors in sharing information.  Second, the US should address the issue of management functions for various departments (Painter, 2017).  Currently, there are many agencies and the US should increase leadership commitment and implement strategies to manage the functions and prevent management challenges.  It should allocate enough skilled personnel and ensure an integrated management system in order to make effective decisions (Painter, 2017).  Finally, the US should come up with strategic program planning that would allow the DHS to make investment decisions and meet strategic needs.

Existing roadblocks to DHS

 The existing roadblocks that prevent the DHS from addressing the most important issue are; cybersecurity, lack adequate research and development, and lack of adequate modernization (Painter, 2017).  Cybersecurity is the greatest threat affecting the DHS. Due to the dramatic rise of information and communication technology, and cyber-capabilities, the DHS is unable to protect itself from these threats.  However, the DHS will be able to coordinate other functions if only it addresses the issue of cyber threat through the sharing of information in various sectors (Painter, 2017).  Second, DHS lack adequate research and development.   Uncoordinated research programs act as a roadblock or rather it prevents the department from engaging in research and development and in engaging in its critical mission (Painter, 2017). The last roadblock is lack of adequate modernization to support the Coast Guard.  The latter provides maritime security and protects the US environment but the armed force lack modern resources.

Role cyber terrorism in future attacks

 In the future, the threats of cyber-terrorism will change due to the development of new technologies. Cyber threats will be more advanced since criminals are using more sophisticated tools and vulnerabilities will continue to get worse unless the US and its allies implement cyber protection efforts (Blane, 2003). Note that there is a rise of the internet and cyberspace and the technological advanced is allowing criminals to communicate and exchange ideas.  Thus, in the future, there will be new threats and the terrorist group will have the power and ability to attack the US and its allies and cause death.

 

            What I consider as the largest cyber threat is the Internet of Things device threats.  Cyber terrorists are using IoT-enabled device to access a network.  The problem with the IoT is that the service providers are unable to manage them since they lack a security-first mindset (IT-Online, 2019).  They are unable to manage IoT risks and also the company's staffing and budgets are inadequate.  It is recommended that the company should offer employee training so that the workforce can learn about the IoT devices including the risks management, and cyber risks. 

 

Conclusion 

 Since the inception of the DHS, it has played significant roles in protecting the US from terrorists' threats.  It has provided border security and emergency response and more importantly, it prevents the nation against future attack.  It was created in 2002 as a comprehensive national strategy and it is made up with different departments and agencies whose its major goal was to prevent terrorism, among other goals.  The DHS works together with law enforcement and the intelligence agencies to ensure that the nation is secure and resilient.   The agencies have a holistic management approach that enables them to promote security and resilience.  There is a big change in the DHS in that today, the department has various agencies such as the Border and Transpiration Security, emergency department, science, and technology department, among other departments.  However, the DHS faces challenges such as lack of a clear mission for the agencies, lack of clear roles in individual, local and state agencies, and lack of adequate funds.  In the future, there should be strong coordination and cooperation among the agencies and build a cohesive culture toward preventing future attacks.

 

References

Johnson, T. C., & Hunter, R. D. (2017). Changes in homeland security activities since 9/11: an

examination of state and local law enforcement agencies’ practices. Police Practice and

Research, 18(2), 160-173.

 

Bean, H. (2009). Exploring the relationship between homeland security information sharing &

local emergency preparedness. Homeland Security Affairs, 5(2).

 

 Sandler Todd., & Enders Walter. (2011). The Political Economy of Terrorism. Cambridge

University Press

 

Blane, J. V. (2003). Cybercrime and cyberterrorism: Current issues. New York, NY: Novinka

Books.

 

Painter, W. L. (2017). Selected issues in homeland security policy for the 115 th Congress.

Congressional Research Service. Washington.

 

 IT-Online. (2019). IoT: on the rise and under threat. WordPress.  Retrieved from: https://it-online.co.za/2019/05/31/iot-on-the-rise-and-under-threat/