战略与国际研究中心-Meeting-the-Challenges-of-Establishing-a-New-Department-of-Homeland-Security_21页_141kb

Summary of the CSIS White Paper: Meeting the Challenges of Establishing a New Department of Homeland Security

Core Content

This CSIS white paper outlines a series of recommendations and considerations for the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), emphasizing the need for a comprehensive, flexible, and well-coordinated approach to national security. The paper acknowledges the importance of the DHS initiative in the wake of the September 11 attacks but stresses that it must be accompanied by strategic planning, institutional reforms, and a balance between security and civil liberties.

Main Recommendations

1. Empower the Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security

• Establish offices to perform threat assessment, strategic planning, program and budget review, and development of operational concepts.
• Create a threat assessment unit that focuses on mid- to long-term risks and helps inform strategic direction.
• Develop a strategic planning office to define and prioritize objectives, articulate a Department-wide strategy, and outline a multi-year action plan.
• Implement a program and budget review office to ensure alignment with strategic goals and provide annual oversight.
• Set up an advanced concepts office to develop new operational approaches and bridge gaps identified in planning and simulations.

2. Facilitate More Effective Intelligence Sharing and Analysis

• Create a National Intelligence Fusion Center to enhance connectivity, information sharing, and collaboration across intelligence and law enforcement levels.
• Develop an information classification system for domestic law enforcement and DHS to improve data accessibility and interoperability.
• Add analyst positions in FBI field offices and major urban law enforcement agencies to provide analytic input to domestic intelligence databases.
• Establish information sharing protocols to allow data to be shared with third parties without case-by-case approval.

3. Consider Economic Issues

• Avoid statutory mandates that may hinder economic considerations.
• Formally include economic factors in the mission and structure of DHS and the White House Office of Homeland Security.

4. Forge Close Links Between the Department and Other Homeland Security Entities

• Establish offices within DHS to coordinate with international partners, Department of Defense, state and local officials, and the private sector.

5. Establish Close Private Sector Ties

• Develop a departmental culture aligned with 21st-century commercial and management practices.
• Create an Under Secretary for Acquisition to mirror roles in the DoD and NASA.
• Enhance procurement flexibility by integrating the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Technology Alliance (CBRTA) and establishing a National Technology Alliance (NTA)-like instrument within DHS.

6. Enhance the Skills and Performance of Homeland Security Personnel

• Create a Homeland Security Training Academy directly reporting to the Secretary.

7. Foster Better Communication with the American People

• Establish an office for public education to inform citizens about threats and actions they can take to enhance safety.

8. Support the Technical and Analytic Needs of the New Department

• Create a Federally Funded Research and Development Center for Homeland Security to support technological and analytical advancements.

9. Revamp Congressional Oversight of Homeland Security

• Create Select Committees in both the House and Senate for oversight.
• Ensure cross-jurisdictional involvement by including chairpersons and ranking members from relevant committees.
• Assign independent staff to each Select Committee.
• Establish new subcommittees within Appropriations Committees to handle oversight responsibilities.

Key Considerations for Decision Makers

Articulate a Homeland Security Strategy

• The White House must publish a comprehensive homeland security strategy that defines mission objectives, capabilities, and resource allocation priorities.
• The strategy should be annualized, tied to the budget, and reviewed and updated to ensure it remains relevant and responsive to evolving threats.

Conduct a Comprehensive Threat and Vulnerability Assessment

• A thorough assessment of threats and vulnerabilities is essential to prioritize resources and manage risk effectively.
• The assessment should cover a range of threats, from high-consequence/low-probability (e.g., WMDs) to low-consequence/high-probability (e.g., individual suicide bombers).
• It should be an ongoing process, integrated with the budget cycle and used to inform strategic decisions.

Strengthen White House Coordination

• The White House Office of Homeland Security should be granted strong central authority to coordinate policy and resolve inter-agency disputes.
• Clarify the relationship between the Homeland Security Council and the National Security Council to ensure integration of domestic and international security efforts.

Craft an Effective Implementation Strategy

• The implementation should be adaptive and flexible, allowing for rapid reorganization and realignment as needed.
• A phased approach is recommended to ensure continuity during the transition, especially given the ongoing nature of the war on terrorism.
• Use innovative technologies and management practices to create virtual organizations and improve inter-agency cooperation.

Balance Other Critical Concerns

• Preserve preexisting missions of agencies being transferred to DHS, such as economic functions, natural disaster response, and resource protection.
• Address civil liberties concerns by ensuring that all security-related proposals are publicly debated and carefully considered.
• Maintain accountability and oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse of new information collection and sharing capabilities.

Conclusion

The establishment of the Department of Homeland Security represents a significant opportunity to reform government structures, improve intelligence sharing, and enhance national security. However, success depends on strategic clarity, institutional flexibility, and ongoing public engagement. The recommendations in this paper aim to guide the administration and Congress in creating a more effective, adaptive, and accountable homeland security framework.