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Homeland Security, Office of———173

distribution of intelligence; creating national homeland
security performance standards for federal, state, and
local agencies, particularly first responders including
police and firefighters; creating a national alert system;
and encouraging private industry to improve security.
Ridge encountered his first serious opposition while
working on border security. Ridge succeeded in nego-
tiating a border security pact with Canada, but critics
have argued that the agreement includes nothing that
was not under discussion before Ridge’s appointment.
By summer 2002, critics from many quarters sug-
gested that the efforts of the OHS had been largely inef-
fective, in part because it lacks any real authority over
entrenched bureaucracies such as the FBI. In response
to these criticisms, President Bush announced a plan to
replace the OHS with a Cabinet-level department, thus
providing it with a staff and standard procedures,
giving it budget authority over antiterrorism spending,
making Senate confirmation of its director mandatory,
and making it accountable to Congress.
According to the Bush proposal, the new
Department of Homeland Security would have a bud-
get of $37.4 billion and be organized into four divi-
sions: Border and Transportation Security; Emergency
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. Known for Preparedness and Response; Chemical, Biological,
his no-nonsense style, the secretary reported on the Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures; and
U.S. War on Terrorism in Afghanistan, Operation Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection. As
Enduring Freedom.
such, the department would take control of a variety of
Source: Department of Defense photograph by R.D. Ward.
functions now overseen by the Department of Justice,
the Treasury, the Immigration and Naturalization
and issues. Such “czars” have been named for drugs, Service, and the FBI, as well as the Commerce,
AIDS, rubber, and energy; as Congress has not granted Transportation, and Energy departments. Although the
them statutory powers, their power, and thus some- House passed legislation approving a new department,
times their success, has been limited. Much depends there was opposition in the Senate to the proposal,
on the relationship between the president and the because of disagreement over collective bargaining
appointee. rights of the new department’s employees.
Ridge is supported by a staff of about 80, which
See also NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL; SEPTEMBER 11
is expected to grow to around 120. The top jobs
ATTACKS
have been awarded to officials associated with Ridge,
Vice President Richard Cheney, and Defense Secretary Further Reading
Donald Rumsfeld. The chief deputy, Steve Abbott, is a
retired admiral and former senior aide. The OHS is Bettelheim, Adriel. “Does Ridge Have the Clout to Carry It
Off?” Congressional Quarterly Weekly, November 3,
establishing a national coordination center a few miles
2001, 2586.
from the White House that will be staffed by federal
Brinkley, Joel, and Philip Shenon. “Domestic Defenses:
employees of the FBI, CIA, and other agencies. The
Ridge Meeting Opposition From Agencies. New York
center’s goal is to improve information sharing and
Times, February 7, 2002, A16.
coordination among federal agencies, and eventually Office of Homeland Security Web page. http://www.white-
include state and local agencies. house.gov/homeland/.
This OHS agenda includes plans for creating a new Revisiting Homeland Security. New York Times, February 7,
border security agency; revamping collection and 2002, A28.