Department of Homeland Security

Background
DHS is a Cabinet department of the U.S. Federal Government. The department has the responsibility of responding to natural disasters and protecting the territory of the United States from terrorist or other attacks, with the mission of preparing for, preventing, and responding to domestic emergencies,

DHS became operational on March 1, 2003, and has over 200,000 employees, making it the third largest cabinet department, after the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. Homeland security policy is coordinated at the White House by the Homeland Security Council.

Some other agencies that have specific homeland security responsibilities include the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Energy.

Information Technology Background

Information technology (IT) is a critical tool for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office, "not only in performing its mission today, but also in transforming how it will do so in the future." In light of the importance of this transformation and the magnitude of the associated challenges, GAO has designated the implementation of the department and its transformation as high risk. GAO has reported that in order to effectively leverage IT as a transformation tool, DHS needs to establish certain institutional management controls and capabilities, such as having an enterprise architecture and making informed portfolio-based decisions across competing IT investments.[1]

Note: Links shown in red need more information. If you are familiar with one of these subject areas, please feel free to follow the link in order to add more information to the Government IT Wiki.

Current Climate

Major Projects by Department - FY2009

• Citizenship and Immigration Services - DHS
• Departmental Management and Operations - DHS
• Department-Wide Investment - DHS
• Domestic Nuclear Detection Office - DHS
• Federal Emergency Management Agency - DHS
• National Protection and Programs Directorate - DHS
• Office of the Chief Financial Officer - DHS
• Office of the Chief Information Officer - DHS
• Science and Technology - DHS
• Security, Enforcement, and Investigations - DHS
• United States Coast Guard - DHS
• United States Secret Service - DHS

Major Projects by Department - FY2009

Leading Projects at DHS - 2007
DHS - Infrastructure
SCO - United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT)
DHS - Integrated Wireless Network (IWN)
CBP - Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)
USCIS - IT Transformation

Top Spending Departments - 2007
Citizenship and Immigration Services
Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection
United States Coast Guard
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Border and Transportation Security

Leading Contract Winners at DHS
Northrop Grumman Corp. - Services
Pragmatics - Services
Apogen Technologies - Services
Unisys - Services
QSS Group - Services
De;; Computer Corp. - Products

Recent GAO Reports Critical of DHS
In report GAO-07-424, entitled INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: DHS Needs to Fully Define and Implement Policies and Procedures for Effectively Managing Investments GAO says DHS didn't fully define eight of 11 policies and procedures listed under the IT Investment Management framework created via the Clinger-Cohen Act. Whiler progress was noted on several fronts, the report mentioned that procedures for selecting investments do not cite specific criteria or steps for prioritizing and selecting new IT investments.

Another Report from GAO, Published in April, 2007, discusses the need for improved Homeland Security Computer Networks.

DHS Grants to States

Full list of 2008 grants to states from the Department of Homeland Security. Available directly from the DHS site (.pdf format). These are grants to help states and communities strengthenand protect their critical infrastructures.

Other lists can be found here:  2007 grants;  2006 grants.

IT Budget History

Numbers = $millions. (Data from the Office of Management and Budget)

Note on 2007 & 2008: Most civilian agencies other that the Homeland Security Department have not had a full budget approved since FY2006. A continuing resolution has keep agency spending near 2006 levels. Homeland Security had its budget boosted in mid-2007, and approved for 2008.

Critical Infrastructure

• Latest Critical Infrastructure Protection News - Focus on fire departments
• Emergency transportation management systems
• National Preparedness Guidelines document from DHS -- outlines ways to protect the nation's critical infrastructures.

Procurement Methods

Federal Register - DHS

Advice

• Government Accountability Office Reports referencing DHS Information Technology.
• Results.gov recommendations for DHS.

Latest DHS News

• DHS News
• Critical Infrastructure Protection Infograms

Additional Homeland Security News

Related Links

• Learn more about the DHS Einstein Program that's designed for intelligence-sharing.
  

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• DHS Organizational Chart|
• Under Secretary for Management
• Under Secretary for Science & Technology
• Under Secretary for National Protection & Programs
• Assistant Secretary for Policy
• Assistant Secretary, Office of Health Affairs & Chief Medical Officer
• Chief Privacy Officer/Chief FOIA Officer
• Director, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
• Director, Office of Operations Coordination
• United States Department of Homeland Security
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security homepage
• The White House - Homeland Security
• US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology)
• ANSI Homeland Security Standards Panel (ANSI-HSSP)
• DHS website to promote readiness to defend against attack
• HSToday
• 'DHS plots maritime awareness roadmap', April 2006
• First Responder Training

U.S. Department of
Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
202-282-8000

Web site

Headquarters: Nebraska Avenue
Employees: 208,000 (2007)
Annual Budget: $44.6 billion (2007)
Agency Executives:

Secretary: Michael Chertoff

Dep. Sec.: Michael P. Jackson

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Mission:
To lead the unified national effort to secure America. To prevent and deter terrorist attacks and protect against and respond to threats and hazards to the nation. To ensure safe and secure borders, welcome lawful immigrants and visitors, and promote the free-flow of commerce. Formed from the National Strategy for Homeland Security and the Homeland Security Act of 2002.[1] There also are several Department of Homeland Security strategic goals.

Major sub-organizations

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Transportation Security Administration
Federal Emergency Management Agency
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
United States Secret Service
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
U.S. Coast Guard