Budgeting for Homeland Security

Publication Date: March 2008

Publisher: IBM Center for The Business of Government

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Keywords: Presidential transition; Homeland security; National security

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created to pull together many facets of the federal effort to prevent terrorist acts, protect people and infrastructure, and mitigate the consequences of potential subsequent attacks. Unfortunately, the nation is not getting two results that experts and policy makers hoped would flow from these changes: spending tied clearly to the nation's top priorities and unity of effort across the entire federal homeland security establishment.

The pending transition to a new administration and Congress opens a window. The new administration and Congress can take a number of important steps to strengthen the links between strategies and budgets.