US Homeland Security: Established in Response to 9/11 Attacks - Research Paper

Introduction

The Homeland Security Act was signed into law in 2002 by the president of the United States of America at that time, President George Bush. The ruling led to the establishment of a new section in the policymaking arm of the United States of America nation under the name of the Department of Homeland Security. The Department was tasked with protecting the national safekeeping of the government of the United States of America. Plans to come up with the action commenced in September of 2001 when the sole reason was defending the government from terrorists and quick responses to the emergency of considerable magnitude and scale. They were the most pressing issues at that time.

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The Department is the largest body ever been created after the formation of the Department of security in the US and before the passage and the implementation of the Homeland Security Act, the security personnel and merchandise of the US had been spread along with various security body organs that were tasked with the work. They included military and federal bodies. The Homeland Security came with unique federal body organization identified with a binding mandate, a cabinet caliber secretary and was home to more than 180, 000 employees who worked in the various sectors of the Department. In addition, the body placed some of the existing bodies under the Department of Homeland Security and assumed the responsibilities of crisis preparedness, infrastructure protection, and others.

The birth of Homeland Security Act promised the US citizens of a better measure to combat terrorism, in showing that the country was ready to minimize the vulnerability of its people from terrorist attacks, reduce damage from the same through emergency responses and also help with the recovery process to victims who may be directly hit by the acts of terrorism. The Secretary of the Department is vested with the mandate to conduct and run an investigation that warrants access to information and material that may be used to prevent and reduce the aftermath of terrorism activities. The access may include that to PHI of any kind without the explicit authorization and acceptance from the patient or the legal guardian. The rule further directs that the samples got are to be used confidentially and should not be disclosed to any other party apart for the official duties. The disclosure is thus limited to those who would like to sue the information for the purpose of accomplishing their job.

The Homeland Security Department boasts of having a private office in the federal offices of the various agencies. The privacy office is solely tasked with the responsibility of assessing the effect of privacy measures put in place on the programs set in motion by the Department, their initiatives and systems. The privacy is also tasked with the mitigation of any projected outcome on privacy. The privacy office overall objectives include evaluation of the statutory and regulation offers that comprises of the assemblage, use and discovery of individually identifiable data. Secondly, the body is also tasked with consolidating and providing program regulation and putting into motion all privacy act operations. Thirdly the act also runs privacy response program that addresses incidents involving individually identifiable data. The law also responds to, investigates, and addresses the complaints arising from the violation of privacy. Lastly, the body also provides coaching, learning opportunity, and a crusade that begins the foundation for privacy practices in the Department for the use of enhancing transparency.

The Department of Homeland Security was created to reduce redundancies in the federal security agencies and enable intelligent sharing. It was also put in place to establish secure and reliable measures for the training and reacting to high-risk emergencies. Nevertheless, the optimism in public because of the implementation of the body is welcomed as the body is projected to streamline the US safety measures and place the country in a better position to deal and respond to terrorism. The public is, however, warned not to expect miracles to happen about the security issues in the US over the night. The systems are to be given time to mature and time to fully incorporate the said and the agreed-upon terms before they can fully deliver on the mandate. Concerted efforts should be employed by the other security bodies in the country and ensure that the order of the body is a success.

Discussions and debates were set in motion to discuss the events and terrorist acts that have happened in the US way before the one in 2001, and they were quite a number. The effects of terrorism continue to ravage the lives of innocent Americans, while risky emergencies have also been a common phenomenon. The issue of terrorism is a continuous cyclic event that every country should invest in and come up with measures to combat if they are to enjoy their freedom. The mandate and authority vested in the Department of Homeland Security is a major one and needs to be delivered if the achievements of the body are to be celebrated. However, terrorism is quite a delicate subject, and the activities are entirely random. It is, therefore, hard to guarantee the safety of Americans even with the commissioning of the body. American citizens should thus be patient and provide all the necessary support for the body to be fully competent.

The future of the Homeland Security Act is dependent on their response to natural calamities and disasters. The way they combat and react to the destruction of natural disasters and will determine the success story of the Department of Homeland Security. The reason behind this is that natural calamities are more common and thus can easily be traced and necessary measures put in place to reduce the effect on the population. It is impossible to deal with the calamities of terrorism acts. Therefore the county should be prepared to deal with the issues associated with terrorism as one can never be prepared enough. For the success of the department, the managers of the body need to deal with the opposition and obstacles they are facing from other previously established institutions. The resistance should be brought on board, and the concerted efforts are used to effect change as far as the security of the nation is concerned.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Act was a good move by the legislators of that time who wished to improve the security of the country. They convinced the president that the body was all they need for the success of the country in terms of security measures and dealing with terrorism. The agency has been able to achieve a lot, but more needs to be done to ensure the country is always on alert to deal with emergencies arising from terrorism and natural calamities.