Homeland Defense Journal - January 2009 - 6

TAKE FIVE GAO Finds DHS Conducts Reasonable Methodology to Assess Risk and Allocate Grants HE GAO reviewed the methodology used by DHS and FEMA to allocate Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) funding, including the risk assessment methodology they use to determine which urban areas are eligible to apply for grants. The GAO found that DHS has constructed a reasonable methodology to assess risk and allocate funds. DHS uses empirical risk analysis and policy judgments to select the urban areas eligible for grants (all SHSP grantees are guaranteed a speciﬁed minimum percentage of available grant funds) and to allocate SHSP and UASI funds. http:// www.gao.gov T “One of the reasons people in Washington love to reorganize is two things. First of all they can create jobs for themselves; and secondly it’s easy and dramatic.” —Secretary Chertoff at a bloggers roundtable on the questionof the possibility of reorganization at DHS DHS IG Finds Continued Need for Coordination of Fusion Centers T HE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY’S INSPECTOR GENERAL issued a report on whether the DHS is providing adequate oversight and guidance for fusion centers, and what problems and challenges are being encountered as fusion centers develop. The report found that the department’s coordination efforts with fusion centers are improving, and are adding value to the centers. The report also indicated that there remains challenges within the DHS on coordination, aligning fusion-center activities and funding with the department’s mission, and deploying personnel to state and local fusion centers in a timely manner. Also, the centers continue to report problems in getting useful information from the department. http://www.dhs.gov Cybersecurity Commission Outlines Major Threats for President-elect Obama …we have a lot ahead of us, I do think it’s true that past is prologue. And to understand what we must do, we must understand from where we’ve come.” —Secretary Chertoff in his farewell speech at Georgetown University HE CSIS COMMISSION ON CYBERSECURITY for the 44th Presidency released its ﬁnal report, “Securing Cyberspace for the 44th Presidency.” The Commission’s three major ﬁndings found that Cybersecurity is now a major national security problem facing the United States; that decisions and actions must respect American values related to privacy and civil liberties; and that only a comprehensive national security strategy that embraces both the domestic and international aspects of cybersecurity will improve the situation. The commission was chaired by Congressman Jim Langevin, D-RI, and Congressman Michael McCaul, R-TX. The full report and ﬁndings can be found at http://www.csis.org T “All of its decisions must go through the secretary of homeland security, who also has the power to duplicate FEMA’s command structure with the appointment of a principal federal official to the agency’s federal coordinating officer. These actions create unnecessary confusion and delays.” —Congressman Jim Oberstar in a letter to President-elect Obama calling for FEMA’s removal from DHS 4 | Homeland Defense Journal Visit www.homelanddefensejournal.com
Homeland Defense Journal - January 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Homeland Defense Journal - January 2009
