Department of Homeland Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Department of Homeland Security - Essay Example The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department under the federal Government of the U.S. The main tasks of this department are to protect the United States from terrorist attacks and responding to natural disasters. This department works in order to protect the state within, at and outside its borders. The goal of this department can be defined as â€Å"to prepare, prevent and respond to domestic emergencies, particularly terrorism†.It was in 2003 that the Department of Homeland Security assumed its duties and now it is running with over 200 000 employees, being the third largest cabinet department of the United States. The formation of this department by President Bush was a response act to the September 11th attacks in the United States. The mission of the office was stated as â€Å"to develop and coordinate the implementation of a Comprehensive national strategy to secure the United States from terrorist threats or attacks. The office will coordin ate the executive branch’s efforts to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States†. As a first step to achieve their mission the department had come up with a color-coded terrorism risk advisory scale that provides â€Å"comprehensive information about the various risks to the federal, state and local authorities and to the people†. Actions will be intensified and protective measures strengthened if any area or department’s risk level rises... As a first step to achieve their mission the department had come up with a color-coded terrorism risk advisory scale that provides "comprehensive information about the various risks to the federal, state and local authorities and to the people".  Actions will be intensified and protective measures strengthened if any area or department's risk level rises. (Homeland Security) This is considered to be the largest Government reorganization since the U.S. Department of Defence was created. Any agency under the Department of Homeland Security will be housed in anyone of the four major directorates namely Border and Transportation security, Emergency of preparedness and response, Science and Technology and Information Analysis and Infrastructure protection. The Border and Transportation directorate includes representative agencies from Treasury, Justice, Transportation and Agriculture. The Emergency preparedness and response directorate brings together the Federal Emergency Management Ag ency (FEMA), the Strategic National Stockpile and the National Disaster Medical System (HHS), the Emergency, Justice and the National Domestic preparedness office. The scientific and technology directorate includes the CBRN Counter measures programs, Environmental Measurement Lab, National BW Defense Analysis center and Plum Island Animal disease center (for agriculture purpose). The Information and Infrastructure protection directorate includes the Federal Computer Incident Response Center, National Communications System, National Infrastructure Protection Center, Energy Security and Assurance program.