Essay Example on Trump's 2017 NSS: A Roadmap for US Prosperity & Security

Introduction

The December 2017 National Security Strategy (NSS) of the United States of America (USA) is an official report prepared by the executive branch of President Trump's administration. It contains details of the government's plan and vision to restructure the USA towards prosperity. The NSS serves as a roadmap for strategies and measures that the country should pursue to ensure that it safeguards USA citizens and borders. It is also the premise upon which the Department of Defense will develop safety practices. Divided into four strategic pillars, the document offers a guideline that will improve the nation's ability to overcome various challenges. The main themes addressed in the sections are the protection of the people, promotion of American prosperity, preservation of peace through strength, and advancing American influence ("National Security Strategy of the USA," 2017). The information contained in the NSS is of critical value, especially in times like this, when there is an urgent need to protect the lives of USA citizens.

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Under Pillar I of the NSS, the report examines the effect that the occurrence of bio-threats and pandemics would have on the US population. It acknowledges that these incidents can occur due to accidents, planned attacks, as well as by natural means. Outbreaks such as Ebola and SARS have had devastating effects in the past. Their occurrence compromises national security, leads to massive loss of lives, destroys the economy, and reduces public trust in the government. A scenario such as the current COVID-19 pandemic requires intervention that will guarantee early detection and containment of the virus. According to the NSS, the government's immediate response should be to facilitate quick emergency response (National Security Strategy of the USA," 2017). More importantly, it reiterates the need to support biomedical innovation that will enhance preparedness for such high-level bio-threats ("National Security Strategy of the USA," 2017). Therefore, it communicates applicable measures that the government can pursue to lessen the impact of the pandemic.

The document asserts that the susceptibility of the US to attacks and insecurity increases due to ineffective border control measures. The other factor that exposes the nation to problems is immigration policies that do not prioritize the safety of US citizens. Improved border security and stringent immigration laws will enhance national security, economic prosperity, and the rule of law. Some of the measures proposed by the NSS that have become relevant given the current events include enhanced vetting and strict enforcement of immigration rules ("National Security Strategy of the USA," 2017). The threat that faces the US population continues to rise if the state does not take action to limit the entry of travelers from all countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the report is crucial as it offers guidelines on bolstering border security and transportation services across the country.

Under pillar II, which addresses the promotion of American prosperity, the report talks about the need for the US to advance its position and dominance in the fields of research, technology, invention, and innovation. According to the NSS, the US will retain its competitive advantage, safeguard its economy, and promote security by prioritizing technology ("National Security Strategy of the USA," 2017). When hit by a pandemic, a nation's capacity to withstand, cope with the crisis, and rebuild in the aftermath is determined by its research capabilities. The country must invest in supporting science and experts whose research knowledge and skills are crucial to the US' ability to bounce back from pandemics. Their investigation into the bio-threats that outbreaks pose to the population can help increase preparedness across different sectors of the economy that stall in times of crisis.

Lastly, the NSS report plays a vital role in this time through priority actions that can help safeguard the nation and reduce the probability of occurrence of similar incidents in the future. Under the theme of research and technology, the document calls for the leveraging of private capital and expertise to encourage building and innovation in specific industries ("National Security Strategy of the USA," 2017). The private sector has unique levels of knowhow that can help boost Research and Development activities. The technical expertise of entities in the US can lead to the innovation of biomedical solutions that can protect the population against future biothreats and pandemics. For the US to stay ahead of the curve in various industries, the NSS provides a template that can lead to economic success without compromising public healthcare. Hence, observing the guidelines in the document can assist in directing the country to prosperity.

The Sector Possess the Biggest Risk and What Legal and Ethical Issues Must the U.S. Government

Every nation and region has a critical infrastructure that are crucial determiners of the quality of life that people lead. It is a term that refers to different systems whose contribution to the overall success of a nation is integral. They are assets that enable a government to pursue goals such as improved public health, better security and safety for citizens, and economic security (CISA Cyber Infrastructure, n.d.). When the capacity of these assets and systems reduces to natural or human-made factors, it becomes challenging to meet the needs of the people, industries, and grow the economy. Natural elements such as earthquakes and floods can destroy critical infrastructure. Human-made incidents such as terror attacks can also damage critical infrastructure. To protect critical infrastructure against these threats, the administration works with different security agencies to harden the target and reduce susceptibility to collapsing (CISA Cyber Infrastructure, n.d.). However, it is essential to note that some sectors are more prone to attacks, and the involved departments need to consider the legal implications of their actions.

According to the Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), there are 16 critical infrastructure sectors. Some of them are the chemical, commercial facilities, communications, dams, critical manufacturing, and transport system sectors. Other essential industries include energy, defense industrial base, financial services, food and agriculture, healthcare, nuclear reactors, water, and emergency services ("CISA Cyber Infrastructure," n.d.). While all the sectors categorized as critical infrastructure are central to the day-to-day living of US citizens, the energy industry possesses the most significant risk in case of an attack. The threats to the energy sector can occur due to natural disasters that disrupt the creation and transmission of power. They can also originate from cyber-attacks. With the advancements made in ICT and computers, the efficiency of the industry has improved. However, it has its vulnerability to individuals and groups with malicious intentions. In its efforts to safeguard this vital sector against cyberterrorism, there are legal and ethical issues that the US government considers before it can harden the target. Cybersecurity laws and regulations implemented by the administration to safeguard the energy sector are crucial in preventing mishaps that occur when there is a shortage of energy (CISA Cyber Infrastructure, n.d.). However, with the enactment of these measures, the government may appear to be violating some rights that are protected by the constitution. Therefore, leaders have to tread carefully when passing policies that seek to enhance the success of the energy sector.

One of the methods that the US government uses to protect the energy sector through cybersecurity is electronic surveillance. This approach aims to monitor attempts to penetrate essential systems such as the power grid made by hackers and other unauthorized people. When such parties gain access to the power grid, they can disrupt the supply of energy to several crucial sectors and departments. It is an action that can significantly compromise the safety of the nation, its citizens, and borders. With the continuous changes and improvements in computer technology, the cyber threats that the energy sector face grow. While the administration can fortify the power grid and make it impenetrable, human beings remain a weak link. Hence, tools are deployed to monitor electronic mails and other documents to stay informed about potential threats (Gunarto, 2014). Whereas it is not a necessarily illegal act, it is considered unethical. Consequently, the government has to deal with controversies that arise when people become aware of the practice.

The energy sector is the backbone of the nation's economy and security. The activities of the Department of Energy, in liaison with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland security, determine the safety of the industry from natural and human-made catastrophes. A component of the energy industry, such as the power grid, serves millions of consumers across the country. The countrywide network of generation points, transmission lines, and control facilities are monitored to minimize large-scale disruptions that could grind the economy to a halt (Gunarto, 2014). An ethical issue that the government has to deal with and consider as it pursues cybersecurity measures to defend the power systems is the privacy of personal information. Data collected is central to anticipation and mitigation of attacks that cause widespread outages. However, there is a possibility of disclosing or misusing the data and violating the privacy of users (Gunarto, 2014). Thus, the administration must stay alert to avoid such mishaps and operate within the confines of US laws.

Challenges Associated With Protecting the Homeland and Balancing Privacy and Civil Liberties

Protecting the homeland and balancing privacy and civil liberties poses endless challenges to the security apparatus of the US. The number of threats that the country faces is high due to the progress it has made and the strategic resources it has. It is the responsibility of the government to protect the American people and the homeland. It is a duty that compels state actors to rely on policies and actions that sometimes receive criticism. Some critics argue that efforts by the administration to protect the homeland have led the nation to deviate from the vision of the foundations upon which the US came into existence. There various threats that emanate from individuals and organized groups which compromise social order in the country. For instance, criminal activities such as drug and human trafficking lead to violent crimes and many deaths. Other issues that the US has to prevent are nuclear, chemical, biological, and terror attacks (Gus, 2015). Since the cartels behind these crimes are menacing, the security agencies may resort to ruthless means of getting results and protecting the homeland. Consequently, it becomes difficult to uphold civil liberties and rights when handling particular threats.

The US constitution allows for freedom of speech and reporting. It is a provision that empowers the media to serve as a source and conduit of information designated for public consumption. The media is given rights to investigate and cover details regarding events in the society. In a democratic dispensation, the freedom of the media is central to the dissemination of important news and updates about various events taking place across the country. However, the government has come under criticism for restricting the media from covering some scenarios. It is an action taken by the security agencies to prevent the publication of material tha...