Homeland Security: Department Organization and Management

Publication Date: August 2002

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Abstract:

After substantial congressional entreatment, President George W. Bush gave impetus to the creation of a Department of Homeland Security when, on June 6, 2002, he proposed the establishment of such an entity by Congress. At the time, bills to mandate a department were pending in both houses of Congress, the Senate legislation having been recently ordered to be reported from committee. The President's action was viewed as an effort to move beyond the coordination efforts of the Office of Homeland Security, established by E.O. 13228 of October 8, 2001, to a strong administrative structure for managing consolidated programs concerned with border security and effective response to domestic terrorism incidents.

On June 18, the President transmitted to the House of Representatives proposed legislation to establish a Department of Homeland Security. It was subsequently introduced by request (H.R. 5005). According to a legislative strategy announced by Speaker Dennis Hastert and Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, the House would begin working with this proposal on an expedited basis. Plans called for an initial review and modification of the administration bill by the Committee on Government Reform and other panels having jurisdiction over homeland security matters, followed by a similar review and refinement of the measure by an ad hoc select panel under the leadership of Majority Leader Dick Armey. The bill would then be sent to the House floor for final action. The Senate elected to work with the department bill (S. 2452) sponsored by Senator Joseph Lieberman. The resulting House and Senate bills would then be reconciled in conference.

As these legislative developments occur, primary issues for Congress and the President are what should be the program composition, administrative organization, and management arrangements of the new department. Other issues include what to do with non-homeland security programs proposed for transfer to the department, personnel costs that may arise from pleas for pay equity among investigative and inspection positions within the department, reconsideration of the relationship of intelligence entities to the department, intelligence analysis by the department, and implementation of the transition to the new department. This report will be updated as events recommend.