Homeland Security Future and Evolving Challenges

Homeland Security Future and Evolving Challenges

Background key stakeholders’ positions

The Department of Homeland Security was created about 20 years ago in response to the 9/11 attacks with the sole purpose of preventing such future attacks and keeping Americans safe. For the period this Department has been in operation, much has been achieved. Homeland Security has played a significant role in preventing prohibited drugs from entering the country through its border points and ports (Homeland Security, 2020). This Department ensures that anybody entering America is well documented and prevents terrible people, such as drug traffickers and terrorists, from entering. Homeland security ensures a safe transport system where goods and people are transported from one place to another within the country without any security threat. (Atlantic Council, 2020). The Department has prevented or cooled down violent situations that could be a threat to national security. However, people hold different views about the Department (Rudman, Et al., 2021). Some say that the Department of Homeland Security has outlived its purpose, and it is time to disband it. At the same time, other people argue that it is time to equip and strengthen this Department to prepare it for the modern and future security challenges.

Problem statement

One main concern that makes key stakeholders have such different views about this Department is that despite it being in place, Americans have been threatened severally, and hundreds have died due to the security threats. New security challenges such as increased cyber-attacks, natural disasters, pandemic diseases such as COVID-19, and violent white supremacy have greatly threatened the security of the American people in the last few years.

Facts

Some of the facts about the Homeland Security area; first, the emerging security threats are overwhelming, calling for different approaches in handling security matters. Secondly, homeland security is much more focused on preventing terrorist activities, but it does less in preventing natural disasters and pandemic diseases (Rudman, Et al., 2021). This is why COVID-19 has helplessly killed thousands of Americans, and it is still a threat.  The third fact is that Homeland Security needs to embrace technology and expand its scope to address all of America’s security threats. Homeland Security needs more resources to fully counter all the security threats; thus, the government needs to allocate more funds to this Department to be effective in its mandate (Atlantic Council, 2020).  Another fact about homeland security is that this entity needs to collaborate with other stakeholders to carry out its functions effectively. It should cooperate with the public, private security entities learning institutions, financial institutions, and more.

Assumptions

Some of the assumptions about homeland security are; first, this Department was solely created to prevent terrorist activities. This assumption is wrong, and Homeland Security is responsible for mitigating any security threats. The second assumption is that homeland security alone can fight and mitigate security threats in the U.S. The truth is that the Department of Homeland Security needs to work in collaboration with many other stakeholders to prevent security threats.

Course of Action

Some of the courses of action (COA) that the Department of Homeland Security can take are; emergency management training and education, a Homeland Security accreditation program, and joint military education of security matters. These courses of action are meant to boost the awareness of national security and thus help mitigate the threats (Rudman, Et al., 2021). Some of the Department of Homeland Security findings are; first, this Department seems to be understaffed. Hence, it cannot carry out its duties effectively because of a low workforce.  I have found that there is little training for the available staff members. Therefore, many do not have adequate knowledge of various security details (Atlantic Council, 2020).   Another finding is that national security threats are evolving, which calls for a more scientific approach to mitigating the threats.

Recommendations

• The government should consider more financial support for the Department of Homeland Security
• The Department of Homeland Security needs to have regular training for its employees to equip them with modern security skills
• The Department of Homeland Security should acquire the latest security technologies available to stay ahead of terrorists
• Homeland security should continue collaborating and engaging other stakeholders to manage the matters of security well.

References

Atlantic Council. (2020). Countering new threats to the homeland: The future of the Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved from https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/future-of-dhs-report-launch/

Homeland Security. (2020). Series 3: Mitigating Evolving Threats and Understanding the Convergence of Breakthrough Technologies. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/series-3-mitigating-evolving-threats-and-understanding-convergence

Rudman, M.  Et al., (2021). Redefining Homeland security: A new framework for DHS to meet today’s challenges. https://americanprogress.org/article/redefining-homeland-security-new-framework-dhs-meet-todays-challenges/

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For this assignment, you will develop a 2-page executive summary that includes the following:

-A problem statement
-A description of background, key stakeholder positions
-Facts and assumptions
-The courses of action (COA) that have been considered
-The findings
-Your recommendations