Homeland security

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Homeland security refers to domestic governmental actions designed to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism, and also respond to natural disasters. The term became prominent in the United States following the September 11, 2001 attacks; it had been used only in limited policy circles prior to 9/11.

Homeland security is officially defined as "a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America’s vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur," according to the National Strategy for Homeland Security.[1] Because the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) it has responsibility for preparedness, response and recovery to natural disasters as well.

"Homeland security" is generally used to refer to the broad national effort by all levels of government--federal, state, local and tribal--to protect the territory of the United States from e hazards both internal and external as well as the Department of Homeland Security itself.

"Homeland security" is also usually used to connote the civilian aspect of this effort; "homeland defense" refers to its military component, led chiefly by the US Northern Command headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Image:Homeland security at Penn Station.jpg

The scope of homeland security includes:

  • Emergency preparedness and response (for both terrorism and natural disasters), including volunteer medical, police,Emergency Management and fire personnel;
  • Domestic intelligence activities, largely today within the FBI;
  • Critical infrastructure protection;
  • Border security, including both land and maritime borders;
  • Transportation security, including aviation and maritime transportation;
  • Biodefense;
  • Detection of nuclear and radiological materials;
  • Research on next-generation security technologies.


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In the United States

In the United States, the concept of "homeland security" extends and recombines responsibilities of much of the executive branch, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the United States Coast Guard, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the former U.S. Customs Service, the Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The George W. Bush administration has consolidated many of these activities under the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a new cabinet department established as a result of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. However, much of the nation's homeland security activity remains outside of DHS; for example, the FBI and CIA are not part of the Department, and other agencies such as the Department of Defense and Department of Health and Human Services play a significant role in certain aspects of homeland security. Homeland security is coordinated at the White House by the Homeland Security Council, currently headed by Frances Townsend.

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Outside the United States

Other nations around the world have also reorganized government activities consistent with homeland security. For example, in 2003 Canada created a Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness led by Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan. Many European nations' homeland security efforts are led by their interior ministries, and they are increasingly coordinating their homeland security activities at the European Commission. The Labor Party in Australia has called for the creation of an Australian Department of Homeland Security, but the Liberal Party-led government has opposed this move.

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See also

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External links

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