Department of Homeland Security Act of 2002 - Term Paper Example

Department of Homeland Security Act of 2002 Introduction Safeguarding the nation has turned out to be the main concern of the US federal government since the 9/11 bombing. An enormous attention has been given to the wellbeing of the citizens. In its quest to achieve its goals of assuring the safety of the nation and its people against the threat of terrorism, the Bush administration legislated the Department of Homeland Security that continuously explores the different areas and strategies to maximize government services to the US society. Winning the war on terrorism is what DHS was made for. However, since its implementation in 2002, there are yet various concerns and issues that rise above this particular government policy. The government’s approach in its initial set-up, the planning process, as well as its enactment and implementation seemed too vague and unsystematic. This research will try to find out how the DHS was implemented, its strategies and objectives. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Homeland security is defined by the three strategic objectives by the Office of Homeland Security’s National Strategy for Homeland Security. According to the National Strategy, homeland security is: a national, not federal, effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; reduce the nation’s vulnerability to terrorism minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur (Caudle, p. 36) In its establishment though, the department’s mission were added with four more significant missions that are deemed necessary for further strengthening homeland security. The following are the four other primary mission of DHS enacted in 2002: carry out all functions of entities transferred to the Department, including by acting as a focal point regarding natural and man made crises and emergency planning ensure that the functions of entities transferred to the Department that are not related directly to securing the homeland are not diminished or neglected except by a specific explicit Act of Congress ensure that the overall economic security of the United States is not diminished by efforts, activities and programs aimed at securing the homeland, and monitor connections between illegal drug trafficking and terrorism, coordinate efforts to sever such connections, and otherwise contribute to efforts to interdict illegal drug trafficking. In reference to this definition and mission, and with its continuing battle for terrorism, the United States federal government enacted the Homeland Security Act (P.L. 107-296) which initiated a major reorganization and expansion of the federal government. It is rather recognized as the most monumental event that happened since 1947 with regards to foreign policies. (Inamete, p. 20) Along with its goal of creating an efficient and effective government structure that provides immediate response to the threats of terrorism, new government agencies were created and the old ones strengthened. Extreme efforts have been demanded from the government in order to create this new department. There were 22 federal agencies, meaning, 22 diverse organizational cultures were consolidated within 92 other already-existing federal departments to form the DHS. (Inamete, p. 20) In his Congressional Testimony in July 2002, then Gov. Tom Ridge stated that the creation of the Department of Homeland Security is the result of the most significant transformation of the US government in over a half-century. The creation of DHS would aid in developing a more focused federal agency that would provide efficient solutions to the threat on terrorism. (Ridge, para 5) Before the enactment of P.L. 107-296, homeland security responsibilities were distributed into various government agencies. There is no single department in the US government that addresses solely this major concern of the American society. Therefore, the development of DHS paved the way to a more unified and competent agency that prioritizes this most crucial problem in the society – homeland security. (Ridge, para 7) With DHS’ fundamental mission which is patterned after the National Strategy’s definition of homeland security, it aims to mobilize and focus the resources of the federal government, state and local governments, the private sector, and the American people to accomplish its mission. (Ridge, para 5) Issues that Concern the DHS Policy The establishment of the Department of Homeland Security however has created several issues about its yet another political dogma that might eventually become another burden of the federal government that will threaten the US community despite its campaign against terrorism. Since its establishment in 2002, DHS has been focusing significantly on its research and development arm against terrorism. With the threat of agro-terrorism, the government has focused mainly on the R&D as its counter-attack on terrorism. There are however other areas in the government with which the department has been participating into though it remains to be the only federal agency that conducts homeland-security based research and development strategies. (Morgan, para 9) The primary research and development arm of DHS is the Directorate for Science and Technology (S&T Directorate) that provides federal, state and local officials with the technology and capabilities to protect the homeland. (“Directorate”, para 10) Its goals of working together with the government concerning the technical issues it has been dealing with, the DHS associates itself with the science and technology policy that is gearing up towards the same end. The DHS’s Directorate of Science and Technology aims at providing the federal and local officials with state-of-the-art technologies and other resources to protect it from destabilization. (“Directorate,” para 11) On the other hand, the Office of Science and Technology Policies established since 1976 by the Congress aims at presenting the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs to the President and others within the Executive Office of the President. Aside from this, OSTP is at the same time authorized to lead an inter-agency effort to develop and implement sound science and technology policies and budgets; work with the private sector to ensure Federal investments in science and technology that contribute to economic prosperity, environmental quality, and national security; build strong partnerships among Federal, State, and local governments, other countries, and the scientific community; and finally to evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness of the Federal effort in science and technology. (“About OSTP,” para 13) Science and Technology Directorate’s research and development (R&D), which is an imperative in science and technology policy, has accepted significant support from the US government such that its spending has totalled an approximately $1.4 billion last year. Half of this was spent on creating new and powerful weapons against terrorism. Science and technology programs are intended for developing technologies that would secure the country from the sea, land, and air attacks of the terrorists trying to destabilize the US. (Carafano, et al, para 25) The situations above clearly show an undeniable dependability of the federal government on the different science and technology policies through research, development and implementation of the results toward its fight against terrorism. Terrorism, as the motivation factor of the Department of Homeland Security, is left as probably just one of the concerns of science and technology but not its main pursuit. The development of highly powered weapons that may be used by the country against terrorism is another area that is subjected to the science and technology research and development. Recent discoveries that involve special weaponry obtain not as much attention in the science and technology policy, in contrast to the DHS’s implacable initiative about these materials. Conclusion A wide variety of opportunities have opened up for the federal government through the enactment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its policies. The US federal government had been able to offer the community a more specified government agency that deals mainly and focuses chiefly on the country’s stability and security against terrorism. The research and development (R&D) division, however, of DHS was never deprived of various issues that concern its policies. Powerful weaponry as results of the DHS R&D has attracted much attention to the public due to its consequences that may further harm the society. This issues are but no ordinary concerns that the federal government should address. It is important to note that terrorism is not alone a federal problem but a local one as well. Appropriate interaction of significant government agencies, either local or national, would aid in its proper implementation. References and Works Cited: “About OSTP.” Retrieved from http://www.ostp.gov/html/_whatwedo.html. Oct. 16, 2007. Branscomb, L. “Science, Politics, and U.S. Democracy.” 2004. Issues in Science and Technology. Retrieved from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3622/is_200410/ai_n9457074 on Oct. 16, 2007. Carafano, J., et. al. “Homeland Security Technology, Global Partnerships, and Winning the Long War.” 2006. Backgrounder #1977. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/bg1977.cfm on Oct. 17, 2007. Caudle, S. “Homeland security: A challenging environment; The meaning of homeland security, its intent, and the key issues officials will encounter in addressing its policy and management challenges.” The Public Manager. 2003. pp. 36-45. “Directorate for Science and Technology.” Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/DHS_StratPlan_FINAL_spread.pdf on Oct. 16, 2007. “Homeland Security Technology.” Retrieved from http://www.issues.org/18.2/bonvillian.html on Oct. 16, 2007. Marburger, J. “Policy, Politics, and Science in the White House: Conversations with Presidential Science Advisors.” 2005. University of Colorado. Retrieved from http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/scienceadvisors/marburger_cu.pdf on Oct. 17, 2007. Morgan, D. “Research and Development in the Department of Homeland Security.” 2003. CRS Report for Congress. Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/man/crs/RL31914.pdf on Oct. 17, 2007. “Public Law 107-296.” Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/hr_5005_enr.pdf on Oct. 16, 2007. Ridge, T. “Homeland Security Department.” Congressional Testimony, July 17, 2002. Silva, J. “Homeland security: Gamble or sure bet?” RCR Wireless News. 2003. pp. 18-22. Read More