3.1 DHS Formation

WHO? Governor Tom Ridge.

WHAT? Was appointed the first Secretary of Homeland Security.

WHEN? After the Department of Homeland Security was authorized, November 25, 2002.

WHERE? The Department was combined from 22 Federal agencies located across the country.

WHY? To prevent, protect, respond, and recover from domestic catastrophic destruction.

The Department of Homeland Security opened in January 2003. It was the largest reorganization of US government in 56 years, since the Department of Defense was established in September 1947. Before there was a Department of Homeland Security, President Bush created an Office of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Council within the Executive Office of the President. Tom Ridge, a former Governor of Pennsylvania, was appointed the first Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. It was his job as director of OHS to formulate policy and strategy. It was his job as director of HSC to see that the President’s directives were properly coordinated and executed. As OHS director, Tom Ridge quickly set to work and published the first National Strategy for Homeland Security in July 2002. This document was important for setting the mission and functions of the future Department of Homeland Security. According to the first National Strategy for Homeland Security, “Homeland security is 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 first National Strategy for Homeland Security, in order to achieve its mission Homeland Security had to perform the following functions:

1. Intelligence & Warning

2. Border & Transportation Security

3. Domestic Counterterrorism

4. Critical Infrastructure Protection

5. Defense Against Catastrophic Terrorism

6. Emergency Preparedness and Response

Meanwhile, up the hill in Congress... Remember back in April Rep. Thornberry (R-TX) introduced HR 1158 proposing a National Homeland Security Agency. After 9/11, Senator Lieberman (D-CT) submitted SB 1534 similarly proposing a National Homeland Security Department. In order to gain more support, together they refined their bills and in May 2002 introduced HR 4660, the National Homeland Security and Combating Terrorism Act of 2002. Before debate could proceed much further, on June 6, 2002, the White House issued a presidential proposal for a new Department of Homeland Security. The President’s proposal combined existing Federal agencies and offices with homeland security responsibilities under one executive agency. Acting on the President’s proposal, on June 24, 2002, Rep. Armey (R-TX) submitted HR 5005 calling for establishment of a Department of Homeland Security. HR 5005 passed the House on July 26, 2002. After an impasse over labor protections was resolved, the Senate passed a revised version of the bill on November 20, 2002. On November 25, 2002, President Bush signed the 2002 Homeland Security Act into law, establishing a new Department of Homeland Security. Tom Ridge was made the new Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Office of Homeland Security was closed back at the White House. The Homeland Security Council, however, continued to work under the direction of a new Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. Secretary Ridge was given four months to pull together the 169,000 personnel and 22 agencies that would comprise the new Department of Homeland Security. He did it in two. As Secretary Ridge played a role in crafting the proposal from the White House, it came as no surprise that the organizational structure for the new department closely followed the mission functions formulated in the National Strategy for Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security was comprised of five directorates:

1. Border and Transportation Security

2. Emergency Preparedness and Response

3. Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection

4. Science and Technology

5. Management

The Department also had authority over two agencies: the US Coast Guard and Secret Service. On January 23rd, 2003, President Bush signed Executive Order 13284 activating the Department. Despite the best intentions, the new Department wasn’t made without compromise. Many were dissatisfied with the result, and others were just confused by the whole thing. The new Department faced a tough and turbulent time ahead that would force it to reshape and reorganize as it evolved together with the concept of Homeland Security.