The Department of Homeland Security - Assignment Example

The DHS has several internal arms that contribute to the functioning of the organization such as Science and Technology, and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil liberties. These arms have been created for the sole purpose of serving DHS's mission. In addition, several independent agencies have departments that work in conjunction with the DHS and report to the Secretary. These include the Secret Service and the Coast Guard. This model assures greater cooperation between diverse independent organizations as they relate to such issues as immigration, border security, and search and rescue.

The DHS states that its mission is to "prevent and deter terrorist attacks and protect against and respond to threats and hazards to the Nation" (Strategic plan, 2008, p.3). This mission refers to deterring and responding to terrorist attacks of any kind, as well as responding to natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. This can benefit the agency because many of the methods and resources needed to respond to a terrorist act are also applicable to a natural disaster. However, it runs the risk of compromising the agencies to be a 'one size fits all' organization, and not doing either task as well as should be expected.

There is an additional benefit in that the agencies fall under one Secretary, which should make management, budgeting, and communications more efficient and effective. Adequacy of the DHS AgenciesThe inclusion of the Civil Rights and Liberties Office as part of the DHS may be a conflict of missions. The agency's mission is to assist "our dedicated colleagues to secure our country while preserving our freedoms and our way of life" (Office for Civil Rights, 2009). This is a self-policing function that would be better served by an outside, and independent, agency.

In addition, there are various agencies that address patrolling the border, customs, and immigration. These agencies may create tension due to conflicting or duplicitous roles and might be more effective if they were consolidated under one department (Cutler, 2005). The Counter-Narcotics Enforcement Department is also an agency whose function is redundant with the DEA and is additionally difficult to justify their inclusion in Homeland Security, except to interrupt terrorist's cash flow. Missing from the organization are units that could more effectively address domestic terrorism.

Animal rights, ecology, and global trade are issues that generate extreme responses against society and DHS would be more efficient if they had their own intelligence and prosecution agencies represented. Evolution of the OrganizationSince March 2003, the DHS has abolished some of the initial departments that were later incorporated and dispersed into other agencies. This has streamlined the organization, which now has fewer agencies whose responsibilities are broader. For example, plant and animal disease, environmental analysis, and medical counter-measures were initially addressed by single dedicated agencies.

These now have been absorbed into the Office of Science and Technology. In addition, the responsibilities for infrastructure protection have been dispersed throughout various departments within the DHS.