2.1: Threats and Disasters
Protect and Secure the Homeland from Threats and Disasters Other Information:
The nature of the threats to national and international security and the means of attack have changed significantly in the
post-Cold War era. Threats stem from differences in national or state ideologies and geopolitical, economic, and strategic
considerations and now, increasingly, from religious conflicts and the aims of nonstate-sponsored groups. Adversaries are
more likely to strike vulnerable civilian or military targets at home and overseas in nontraditional ways to avoid direct
confrontation with U.S. military forces or their allies on the battlefield. The nation must assess and defend against a wide
range of means and methods of attack, ranging from unconventional means to conventional weapons to weapons of mass destruction.
International access, global interdependencies, interconnected and less diverse systems, and rapid technological change make
such threats more viable and decrease the effectiveness of physical borders in ensuring security. These threats put at risk
the nation’s values, economic interests, way of life, and the personal security of its citizens. National strategies have
proposed homeland security and combating terrorism initiatives to address these threats, but the effectiveness of these efforts
remains unclear. Decision-making approaches based on risk analysis and the coordination and alignment of federal efforts and
funding with state, local, and private sector investments are still works in progress. At the federal level, the effectiveness
of major structural changes to provide leadership is critical. Passage of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 moved several
major federal law enforcement agencies around—the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Customs Service, the Coast
Guard, the Transportation Security Administration, and other agencies all moved to the newly created DHS. While the movement
of these agencies into their new units presents management challenges, it also raises concerns about the impact the transfers
will have on agencies’ ability to perform their missions. These concerns, as well as the sheer size of the undertaking, the
fact that DHS’s proposed components already faced a wide array of existing challenges, and the prospect of serious consequences
for the nation should DHS fail to address its management challenges and program risks adequately, led us to add implementing
and transforming the new department to the list of high-risk areas in 2003. The primary mission of DHS is to prevent, reduce
vulnerability to, and aid in recovery from domestic terrorist attacks. Homeland security requires effectively transforming
DHS into a well-managed organization and effective efforts of other federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and the intelligence community. DHS’s efforts to effectively secure all modes of transportation; land, air, and sea ports
of entry; and our nation’s borders and enforce immigration laws within U.S. borders are of critical importance in adequately
protecting and securing our homeland. In addition, Hurricane Katrina graphically demonstrated the shortcomings of the nation’s
ability to respond to a catastrophic disaster whether from natural or human means. Preventing, preparing for, and responding
to emerging security threats, as well as natural disasters, entail successful national information sharing and coordination,
involving defense and domestic federal agencies and programs; state, local, and tribal governments and organizations; the
private sector; and domestic and international communities.
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