Issue Brief posted June 3, 2013 by Jessica Zuckerman, David Inserra
Homeland Security Appropriations Need Different Priorities
While the most recent continuing resolution contained a full year of funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the disorder of the overall budget process over the past several years has generally resulted in weak congressional guidance to DHS. It is important that Congress return to a normal appropriations process and express the right priorities to DHS…
Issue Brief posted April 12, 2013 by Matt A. Mayer
Homeland Security: Developing a Strategic Road Map for the Future
As the deadline for the second Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) approaches at the end of this year, much attention is being given to the record of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and what the department’s proper role should be. Ultimately, the strategy cannot simply be to maintain the status quo, continuing down the same path for the next 10 years…
Issue Brief posted April 9, 2013 by Jessica Zuckerman, David Inserra
Chemical Security: Risk-Based Solutions Key to Fixing Flaws
Last month, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), a program that is overseen by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this hearing, DHS representatives claimed to have “turned a corner” on the CFATS program, putting slow and burdensome procedures behind them and moving forward with timely…
Backgrounder posted February 12, 2013 by James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Jessica Zuckerman, Matt A. Mayer, Paul Rosenzweig, Brian Slattery
The Second Quadrennial Homeland Security Review: Setting Priorities for the Next Four Years
In March, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will mark its 10th anniversary of existence. DHS was established to prevent terrorist attacks and to reduce the vulnerability of, and minimize the damage to, the U.S. in the case of attacks. Ten years later, the concept of homeland security has come to embody an "all hazards" approach, focusing not only on terror…
Issue Brief posted January 17, 2013 by Paul Rosenzweig, Jessica Zuckerman
Napolitano Stays On: Five Key Steps for DHS in the Next Administration
The White House has announced that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will stay in her post as President Barack Obama begins his second term. While the decision is not terribly surprising, it is an important one. Secretary Napolitano’s dedication to stay on will give her the opportunity to continue to improve the operation of the Department of Homeland Security…
Backgrounder posted November 14, 2012 by Jessica Zuckerman
REAL ID Compliance: Enhancing Security, Respecting Liberty, and Reducing Fraud
Abstract: In order to enhance national security by reducing identification fraud, Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, calling on all 50 states to meet minimum security standards for issuing driver’s licenses and state IDs. Seven years after passage of the act, and after two deadline extensions, the majority of states are still not in full compliance with REAL ID…
Issue Brief posted October 3, 2012 by Michael P Downing, Matt A. Mayer
The Domestic Counterterrorism Enterprise: Time to Streamline
Over the last decade, the domestic counterterrorism enterprise in the United States has added a significant amount of much-needed capacity. From the expansion of Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) by the FBI to the development of intelligence fusion centers by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the resources now dedicated to gathering information, analyzing…
Issue Brief posted September 26, 2012 by Jessica Zuckerman
National Terrorism Threat Level: Color-Coded System Not Missed
Last week, the FBI foiled the 52nd thwarted Islamist-inspired terrorist plot against the United States since 9/11. The thwarting of this plot came as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued warnings to religious organizations and other groups within the U.S. of the potential for heightened violence in connection with recent unrest in Egypt and Libya. Yet…
Testimony posted September 11, 2012 by James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
Next Steps for Transportation Security
Testimony before
Subcommittee on Transportation Security
Committee on Homeland Security
United States
House of Representatives
September 11, 2012
My name is James Jay Carafano. I am Deputy Director of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies and Director of the Douglas and Sarah…
Issue Brief posted August 28, 2012 by John Malcolm
10 Immigration Agents Challenge ICE's Non Deportation Policy
Ten Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, represented by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, filed a lawsuit last Thursday in federal district court in Texas against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and ICE Director John Morton. The ICE officers are seeking to invalidate the Obama Administration’s recently implemented “deferred…
Backgrounder posted August 14, 2012 by Jessica Zuckerman
Chemical Security in the U.S.: CFATS Regulations Too Complex, Overly Burdensome
Abstract: In 2007, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program to regulate chemical facilities in the U.S. took effect. While a degree of government oversight of high-risk chemicals is warranted, the CFATS regulations are overly complicated, and overly burdensome on the private sector, with little added security. CFATS expires in October 2012, and the…
Issue Brief posted July 27, 2012 by Matt A. Mayer
Homeland Security Grants: Greater Focus Needed with Finite Federal Funding
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) just announced the final allocations for the 2012 homeland security grants. Since 9/11, Congress has allocated over $40 billion in funds to states and localities. The majority of this funding came from DHS, but funding also came from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),…
Issue Brief posted July 23, 2012 by Paul Rosenzweig
Cybersecurity Act of 2012: Revised Cyber Bill Still Has Problems
Senators Joseph Lieberman (I–CT) and Susan Collins (R–ME) recently released a revised version of their Cybersecurity Act of 2012. The expectation is that Senate leadership will attempt to bring the bill to the floor before the August recess. Though an able effort, the revised bill still has grave problems that are likely to chill innovation without improving…
Issue Brief posted July 10, 2012 by Steven P. Bucci, Ph.D.
BioWatch: Enhancing Biological Threat Detection
In 2001, just one week after 9/11, letters laced with anthrax were found in the U.S. mail system addressed to offices on Capitol Hill and major media outlets. In response, the newly formed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deployed the BioWatch program, which seeks to detect the release of dangerous pathogens into the air, providing early warning to government and…