Running head: HOMELAND SECURITY 1 Homeland Security Florida International University 12/10/17 HOMELAND SECURITY Homeland security is a department in the United States whose tasks entails public security. Other responsibilities include; immigration, customs, antiterrorism, border security, cybersecurity, and disaster management and prevention. It was created as a result of the attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since it was established has experienced lots of criticism in its authoritative capacities hence causing managerial issues in the departments. In 2002, the Congress passed a Security Act that stripped off the rights of its employees which emphasized on their protection. The Act lacked union-friendly measures which were a great deal. In 2005, under the office of personnel management, it introduced a new personnel system (Caruson & MacManus, 2006). They contained rules that would make it difficult for the unions that represented the employees to negotiate any matters that related to the employee. These were staffing, deployment, and other matters. Even though the system was blocked by the district judge, it would have denied them the collective bargaining rights. The department also launched a disaster preparedness response. This was to educate the citizens on how to go about emergencies such as natural and manmade disasters. One of the measures they emphasized on the citizens was ensuring that they had homemade bunkers which they could make with duct tape and plastic sheets (Caruson & MacManus, 2006). However, they were highly criticized because the price of the duct tapes skyrocketed in an exaggerated manner which made them be perceived as opportunists. These cases show the various challenges they have faced with time. They have received heightened criticism due to excessive bureaucracy, lack of transparency, especially in expenditure. DHS has also wasted lost lots of money in failed contracts and fraud. There has also 2 HOMELAND SECURITY been a misuse of credit cards by their employees in purchasing unusable items which end up "getting lost". Anonymous investigation also shows they have used unknown and outdated computer systems which contain the top-secret database with weak passwords. Introduction The security of a nation is vital to the achievement of sustainable economic, social and political goals. This is why many countries have prioritized the security of their countries by having specialized security departments to deal with the defense. The homeland security department is no exception. This department has evolved over the years and it plays a significant role in securing the America citizens. History of Department of Homeland Security It has been about six years since the inception of this security department. Many things have been said about the existence of this department. The homeland security department saw a merging of more than twenty security agencies of the federal government. This was after the terrorist attack in American that left the security of the Americans as question a well as the efficiency of other states security departments to keep the country safe (Ellis, 2014). This merger was a sign of strength as this now meant that the department of homeland security was superior in terms of resources and policy making. Over the years, this department has evolved and has worked together with other security agencies to keep Americans safe. Purpose of Department of Homeland Security Unlike other defense agencies in America, the department of homeland security specializes in keeping the American borders safe, in detecting criminal activities and coming up with strategies to stop criminal attacks. This department is also tasked with dealing with 3 HOMELAND SECURITY cybercrimes that have become very prevalent in various parts of the world. Policy formulation is also another duty of the homeland security department. Sensitizing the Americans on the need to stay safe in times of war and other external threats is also another duty of this department. Context of Homeland Security Unlike other federal and defense agencies, the homeland security department works in conjunction with the citizens as well as with other security departments to formulate policies and to work towards ensuring the security of the Americans is upheld. This department focuses more on working with citizens to get information on ongoing, pending and incoming criminal activities. This way, this department is able to deal with criminal activities and to achieve their goals as a department. Evolution of department of Homeland Security Over the years, this department has evolved greatly. All this has been in a bid to ensure that the security agencies in the US are strengthened and that the Americans are safe. To start with, there was the department of national security agency, the federal emergency management agency among other federal departments that were tasked with upholding security in the United States. The bureaucracy, the corruption, the inefficiency, the lack of accountability and the increased security threats in the US prompted the creation of the homeland security department. Unlike other security agencies, this department was supposed to work closely with the citizens in terms of securing the nation (United States, Dodaro & United States., 2014). 4 5 HOMELAND SECURITY The role of this department has changed over the years since its inception. The homeland security department act provides for the roles of this department and at the same time defines the role of every official in terms of achieving national security. While the credibility of former security agencies had been undermined by the citizens, the credibility of this department has been upheld over the years and this explains the success of this department. Conclusion The role that the homeland security department plays cannot be overlooked. This is because unlike other departments, this department has been able to deliver tangible results to the people of America. The evolution and the rebranding of this department have also played a major role in the attainment of internal security. Literature Review There have been several issues that are going on at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). With the increase in the number of attacks against countries around the world, the leadership of most of these countries has come up with ways of protecting its citizens and sovereignty. Some have created special departments like DHS that are tasked with coming up with ways of protecting the security of the country (Martin, 2016). Various authors have analyzed how the Department of Homeland security is handling these issues as it seeks to deal with matters to do with the security of the country. Since it was formed six years ago, there have 6 HOMELAND SECURITY been many questions about the role of this security department and how effective it has been or it is. The department has evolved over time to become better and more effective than it was when it first became operational. In most countries where departments like Department of Homeland Security exist, the attacks have been reduced and they are safer than they were before. In the United States, DHS is tasked with the major role of ensuring the security of American citizens. Before the DHS was formed, there existed close to twenty security agencies that were tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the security of the American citizens which later on were merged together. Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, (2017) note that this new department was in a far much better position to handle any security threats that face the country especially after the 9/11 terrorist attack that led to most Americans questioning how safe they were in their own country. The merger that led to the formation of the Department of Homeland Security was meant to restore the belief of the citizens in the ability of their government to protect them. The Department of Homeland Security has played a big role in the creation of policies that have made it possible for the government to protect its citizens. In the entire time that the department has been in existence, the department has been able to become stronger and collaborate with other government agencies to make America safer for its citizens (Brown, 2015). This literature review seeks to analyze what the Department of Homeland Security can do in the changing times to make it more equipped to handle modern forms of security threats. Security attacks are now more sophisticated than ever and the use of old methods to handle them will not work. Organizers of the attacks keep on coming up with new ways of ensuring that they do not get detected and the kind of attack they will launch will cause more damage. Issues of HOMELAND SECURITY radicalizations have turned citizens against their own countries and most of the attacks are masterminded by people who are citizens of the countries they plan to attack. It is therefore very important for the department to always be on the lookout and prevent these attacks even before they happen. Purpose of Department of Homeland Security According to Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola (2017), after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on American soil that led to a lot of damages, deaths, and injuries, most American citizens started doubting how secure they were in their own country. As a response to the attacks, Congress created the Department of Homeland Security in order to give the citizens an assurance that they were working towards ensuring their security. The department was formed as a merger of several agencies and its main goal was to improve security coordination and communication on the domestic level (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2017). When they talk about the essentials of homeland security, they insist that there are some things that must be present in order for the department to be effective otherwise, the department would not operate as it should. Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, (2017), also notes that the department of homeland security specializes in the protection of the American citizens through the creation of security policies, the detection of criminal activities, and the creation of strategies to stop criminal attacks. The department also deals with ensuring the security of borders, dealing with the ever increasing and changing cybersecurity attacks and the sensitization of the public on how to protect themselves while staying safe in times of war or any other attacks or threats aimed at the country. Brown (2015) in his article promoting resiliency to address fear and terrorism challenges in the xxi century in the European journal also places an emphasis on how important 7 8 HOMELAND SECURITY it is for citizens to be resilient in the face of possible terrorist attacks. The war on terrorism cannot be won if the citizens do not work together with the security agencies that are created by the government. In order to be successful, the department works in conjunction with the citizens and any other agencies in the quest to protect the security of the American citizens (Brown, 2015). This makes it possible for the department to create policies that are effective in the protection of citizens. Since it works more with citizens, it is possible for the department to collect information regarding ongoing, upcoming and pending criminal activities that threaten their security. This information is then used to prevent or apprehend the people behind the planning and execution of the attacks. Since its formation, the department has undergone several changes to make it better at ensuring the security of American citizens. It is also strengthened by the act that states what its role should be and the roles of each staff member in ensuring the security of the citizens (Brown, 2015). The fact that the department has been effective in its main role of ensuring the security of the American citizens, its credibility has been upheld making it one of the most successful departments in the country. Despite its success, the department has faced criticism from the public due to heightened bureaucracy and lack of transparency on how it spends the funds that it is allocated. Bureaucracy at DHS Since the department of homeland security was created from a merger of different departments, there have been problems that have risen from this merger. Martin (2016) discusses some of the agencies that are under the department of homeland security such as Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Coast Guard, customs and border protection, the HOMELAND SECURITY Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Immigration And Customs Enforcement, the National Cyber Security Center, Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration among others. There are also several staff members such as directors, secretaries, undersecretaries and others who work within the department. The department is also expected to coordinate with other external agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Central Intelligence Authority, Drug Enforcement Agency and Health and Human Services among others in order to be successful in the quest to protect the American citizens (Martin, 2016). Each of these agencies has their own issues which make it for them to work together seamlessly. The department also reports to more than 100 committees and subcommittees a large number of them also oversee things like small businesses and aging and are not a better position to over matters to do homeland security. According to McKay (2017), politics also affect the way various departments are run in the United States. It is easy to overlook the oversight problems, but the truth of the matter is excessive oversight can interfere with the work of the department of the homeland as it seeks to protect American citizens McKay (2017). The delays experienced when proposals have to go through multiple committees before they can be approved can also interfere with the effectiveness of the department especially if it's waiting for authorization before it can handle an urgent security issue. Lack of Financial Accountability Lewis (2014) note that the department of homeland security receives funding from the federal government to run its activities. There have been claims that the department has not been transparent in how it spends the funds that it is allocated. As of September 2008, it was 9 HOMELAND SECURITY estimated that the department had spent close to $15 billion of failed contracts Lewis (2014). Some of the employees of the department have also misused credit cards belonging to the department for purchases that are not in any way relevant or related to ensuring the security of the American citizens. The department has also not been transparent enough regarding its expenditure and this has led to questions and criticism for the citizens. There is also money that has been lost in various cases of fraud where money has been misused or lost in failed contracts. Kahan (2014) writes that the department is expected to be more honest with how it uses the funds that are allocated to it. Its staff is also discouraged from making any purchases of things that will not aid in the fight against terrorism and terrorist attacks. The people in charge should learn to create and stick to a budget that will be agreed upon. Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, (2017) in their article Homeland Security state that it is important for the state to provide all that is needed to facilitate the running of the department so that it can be essential and be successful in its mandated role. In the event that the department does not get the required support, it might not be possible for its staff to handle the changes in terrorist’s attacks that are now more dangerous than ever. It is important for countries to put in place measures that will enable it to deal with the ever-changing terrorist organizations such as ISIS and many others. 10 11 HOMELAND SECURITY Reduce bureaucracy The formation of the department was as a result of a merger of more than 20 other departments each of which was initially independent but now was rendered obsolete. This study identified bureaucracy to be one of the major issues that are facing DHS which is brought about by the fact that the department is supervised by over 100 committees and subcommittees most of which oversees other small business matters and are therefore not in a position to effectively supervise the workings of the departments (Kettl, 2013). This study recommends that the number of committees and subcommittees that oversee the workings of the department of homeland security be reduced to an acceptable number. The number of committees and subcommittees that the department reports to should also be reduced. This will reduce greatly how many meetings and the process of answering the same questions over and over again from the different committees and subcommittees which will free the time spent in meetings to be spent on more important matters relating to the department. The reduction in the number of committees will also reduce the delays currently experienced by the department as it waits for requests to go through multiple committees before they can be approved especially regarding urgent security matters. The study also recommends that the oversight body that is in charge of the agency should not interfere beyond the acceptable levels with the employees of the agency. The employees are expected to be free from any political accountability regardless of what their political affiliations are and so members of the various political parties in the oversight committee should not expect the employees to bend the rules. The employees of the agency should perform their duties as its HOMELAND SECURITY expected of them and not make decisions based on political affiliations. Department of homeland security is an independent agency and any political interference should not be allowed. Lack of financial accountability The study also found out that the department of homeland security has not been accountable with the funds it has been allocated by the federal government. Claims of lack of transparency in its spending have plagued the department for a long time giving it a negative name. The study also found out that as at September 2008, $15 billion had been spent on contracts that had failed, some employees misused the credit cards for the department to make purchases of things that were not relevant and several cases of fraud within the department have also been reported. The study recommends that the department should only be given money based on its budget that has been approved by the relevant body. Any and all contracts should not be awarded unless they have been scrutinized and the contractors found to be in a position to deliver before they can be awarded the contracts. The companies to be awarded contracts should also show proof of their ability to do the job as will be expected of them. Contractors should also be paid in stages until they complete the job assigned to them. Any purchases to be made should be approved by the highest accounts office in the department and employees should be discouraged from making purchases without authorization. It is also recommended that random checks should be made on the accounts of the department in order to make it possible to detect and prevent cases of fraud before they occur. The study also recommends the internal checks on matters to do with finances should be strengthened within the department of homeland security and a policy of how any expenditure will be handled should be implemented (Francis, 2016). 12 HOMELAND SECURITY Conclusion The research uncovered that although the Department of Homeland Security plays a critical role in national security, there are indicating factors that create unproductive results. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secures the United States by thwarting foreign and domestic threats that compromise critical infrastructures. The primary mission of DHS includes prioritizing national security concerns through specialized security defense departments that cooperatively engage in interagency collaborations and the disseminating of critical information. The purpose of Department of Homeland Security is to ensure federal guidance to subsidiary agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Central Intelligence Authority, Drug Enforcement Agency and Health and Human Services. The context of Homeland Security is publically miscued by the enormous amounts of financial transactions that have erroneous purposes, over expenditures and misleading accounting practices heighten the scrutiny of responsible and accountable practices that the USA expects from a highly evolved organizational entity. The evolution of the Department of Homeland Security began post-September 11, 2001, attacks that cost the lives of over 3,000 US citizens. The lack of financial accountability has recently surfaced because purchased inventory now rendered unless or has been stolen, calling into question the financial, ethical practices that cost billions of taxpayer dollars. Homeland security is on the forefront of combating unknown criminal elements, and, the cost associated factor eventually exceeds yearly budgets. Despite the department's irregularities in responsibility and accountability, the bureaucratic politics force the department of continuously overspend expenditures. The department presences are pivotal to the security of national interest, and, regardless of expenditure allotments, DHS, continues to infiltrate terrorist groups worldwide. 13 HOMELAND SECURITY The cost of security is worth more than the budget that is constitutionally awarded annually. Therefore, US citizen can expect to see an increase in financial budgeting for the Department of Homeland Security. The research uncovered that although the Department of Homeland Security plays a critical role in national security, there are indicating factors that create unproductive results. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secures the United States by thwarting foreign and domestic threats that compromise critical infrastructures. The primary mission of DHS includes prioritizing national security concerns through specialized security defense departments that cooperatively engage in interagency collaborations and the disseminating of critical information. The purpose of Department of Homeland Security is to ensure federal guidance to subsidiary agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Central Intelligence Authority, Drug Enforcement Agency and Health and Human Services. The context of Homeland Security is publically miscued by the enormous amounts of financial transactions that have erroneous purposes, over expenditures and misleading accounting practices heighten the scrutiny of responsible and accountable practices that the USA expects from a highly evolved organizational entity. The evolution of the Department of Homeland Security began post-September 11, 2001, attacks that cost the lives of over 3,000 US citizens. The lack of financial accountability has recently surfaced because purchased inventory now rendered unless or has been stolen, calling into question the financial, ethical practices that cost billions of taxpayer dollars. Homeland security is on the forefront of combating unknown criminal elements, and, the cost associated factor eventually exceeds yearly budgets. Despite the department's irregularities in responsibility and accountability, the bureaucratic politics force the department of continuously overspend expenditures. The department presences are pivotal to the security of national interest, and, 14 HOMELAND SECURITY regardless of expenditure allotments, DHS, continues to infiltrate terrorist groups worldwide. The cost of security is worth more than the budget that is constitutionally awarded annually. Therefore, US citizen can expect to see an increase in financial budgeting for the Department of Homeland Security. 15 HOMELAND SECURITY Reference Caruson, K., & MacManus, S. A. (2006). Mandates and management challenges in the trenches: An intergovernmental perspective on homeland security. Public Administration Review, 66(4), 522-536. United States., Dodaro, G. L., & United States. (2014). Department of Homeland Security, progress made ; significant work remains in addressing high-risk areas: testimony before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives. Ellis, J. W. (2014). Fundamentals of homeland security: An operations perspective Brown, W. L. (2015). Promoting Resiliency To Address Fear And Terrorism Challenges In The Xxi Century. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 11(10). Bullock, J., Haddow, G., & Coppola, D. P. (2017). Homeland security: the essentials. Butterworth-Heinemann. Kahan, J. (2014). “One DHS” Revisited: Can the Next Homeland Security Secretary Unite the Department?. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 11(1), 1-24. Lewis, T. G. (2014). Critical infrastructure protection in homeland security: defending a networked nation. John Wiley & Sons. McKay, D. (2017). American politics and society. John Wiley & Sons. Martin, G. (2016). Understanding Homeland Security. SAGE Publications. 16
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