HLSC 510 History of DHS.docx.pdf

History of DHS 1

Abstract

The Department of Homeland Security is an organization relatively new to the United

States as a federal agency but has existed throughout our history in America. The founding

fathers provided us with the foundation to secure our nation and to protect its citizens. In this

paper we will discuss the path the United States and the many administrations it took to get to

where DHS can be seen at today. We will examine the orders and policies emplaced throughout

time to ensure civil defense, examining the phases of emergency management and how certain

events effected changes to our nation. The paper will conclude with a biblical perspective

towards emergency management.

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The mission of the Department of Homeland Security covers a large sector today, though

and homeland security threats, securing the United States border, securing cyberspace and

infrastructure, preserving, and upholding the Nations prosperity and economic security and

strengthening preparedness and resilience of the Nation (Mission, 2019). The missions can be

seen throughout multiple organizations such as FEMA, Border protection, U.S. Coast Guard,

U.S. Secret Service and National Guard working to secure our nation. Most of these mentioned

organizations have been in place since the founding of the United States. During the founding of

the United States the founding fathers laid the foundation for what was meant to be built over

time to secure our nation.

History of Homeland Security

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish

History of DHS 3

protect their homeland from any foreign or domestic threat which was further stressed in the Bill

In the late 18th century, we would see the establishment of many organizations that would

become crucial to defending our homeland. One of which being the U.S. Coast Guard which is

still utilized to this day under the umbrella of DHS. Over the next century the United States

would begin to establish what would be today’s Secret Service who were primarily focused on

protecting the financial infrastructure along with Customs Border Patrol to secure our borders.

Each of these areas would become key elements to the Department of Homeland Security.

Throughout the 19th century Congress continuously came to the aid of states after a

disaster struck the area, with the New Madrid Relief Act which assisted those in Missouri that

were affected by earthquakes in 1815, and later in 1827 by assisting those in Alexandria, Virginia

after a major fire that struck the area (Edwards, n.d.). The government has continuously come to

the aid to states and cities to assist in disaster response and recovery. The government has

utilized our military forces even to assist in rebuilding of cities, protecting civilians, and ensuring

the protection and recovery of its citizens. “In 1891, it was established that those wishing entry to

border by limiting the types of individuals to enter the country. By 1906, the bureau of

immigration and naturalization would be formed to establish naturalization laws within the

United States (CBP, n.d.).

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Civil Defense

During this period, we saw the rise of preparedness in the civilian sector. This began to

occur during World War I and would carry on through the Cold War. The government during this

time stressed to the civilian population that they must do what they can to prepare for any

possible attacks, such as bombing. The government stressed this defense and asked the civilians

to step up to assist in preparing for possible airstrikes. Due to this threat, it was clear that the

public would require protection for future warfare (Civil, 2006). “In August of 1916, an Army

appropriations bill would pass establishing the Council of National Defense” (Civil, 2006). The

council’s responsibility would be to secure our nation by “coordinating and industries for

national defense and to stimulate morale” (Civil, 2006). Once World War I kicked off, the

established by Franklin Roosevelt, did very little to incorporate civil defense (Civil, 2006). Due

America began to grow more concerned. Due to this growing issue the President proceeded to

create the Office of Civilian Defense (OCD) in 1941 (Civil, 2006). OCD utilized multiple

methods to assist in building up civilian resiliency which included nutritional assistance, physical

fitness, and volunteering. This organization would assist in forming the more local agencies in to

further prepare civilians in case of an attack and preparing properly against war-related

emergencies (Civil, 2006). The OCD remained in effect until the shortly after the Truman

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administration would take office in 1945. At this point President Truman would abolish this

After the decommissioning of OCD in 1945, Truman and his administration would

further examine the “national defense structure” (Civil, 2006) within the United States. In this

they were examining separate evacuation plans for more industrialized areas and identifying

possible shelters to further secure the civilian population. In 1947, Major Bull would release a

believed that civil defense should be provided under federal resources (Civil, 2006). The

National Security Resources Board (NSRB) would be formed to mobilize both military and

civilian resources to respond to warfare emergencies (Civil, 2006). Truman would then begin to

implement new policies under the recommendations of Colonel Beers and would establish the

office of Civil Defense Planning (OCDP) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)

(Civil, 2006). After half a year, the OCDP would release a Hopley report advising for the

creation of the federal office of civil defense. Additionally in the report, it recommended the

History of DHS 6

Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) to form national policies for the states to adhere to or

Kennedy made civil defense a top priority during his time in presidency, more than any

other that served before him. Although little would be done after the assignation of Kennedy, the

next President to implement change for civil defense would fall under the Nixon administration.

During his time in office, he would implement two major domestic changes in National Security

Decision Memorandum (NDSM) 184. NDSM 184 would advise the creation of a “dual-use

Under the Jimmy Carter administration we would see the importance of protection or

preparedness from natural disasters after a nuclear accident in Pennsylvania. FEMA would then

be established under the Executive Order 12148. Multiple agencies then would be swept under

FEMA’s umbrella representing the largest consolidation in the United States’ history (Civil,

presidency the rhetoric shifted to natural disasters versus any form of attacks from occurring. In

1986, Reagan would sign Executive Order 12656 which made certain agencies responsible for

History of DHS 7

specific disasters. Two years later from the order the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 would be re-

The next administration to come into office would be the Bush family. During this

presidency it became heavily centered on natural disasters and not much on any possible attacks

occurring. This put a large amount of stress onto the administration to focus on emergency

management. During the Clinton administration, Congress would call for FEMA to develop a

method to detect the disaster, develop a warning system, a response system in case of a CBRN

attack against any attack or natural disasters (Civil, 2006). In 1994, the Stafford Act would be

implemented leading to an all-hazards approach to preparing for emergencies.

face in the United States. Due to the attack that occurred in Oklahoma, the Department of

Defense developed National Guard RAID teams who were meant to assist in preparing for

attacks (Civil, 2006). Prior to the Clinton administration, the management of disasters did not

have the four phases to properly handle the situations.

Bush would issue HSPD-5 which created NIMS or National Incident Management System. He

then would add HSPD-8 to improve response, recovery, and prevention operations in DHS

(Sylves, 2019). Another organization formed due to the 9/11 attack was the TSA or

Transportation Security Administration.

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Some of the other executive orders that were signed into law by President Bush include

Order 13224 blocking property and prohibiting transactions with persons who commit,

threaten to commit, or support terrorism. Order 13232 to authorize the department of

health and human services to exercise certain contracting authority in connection with

national defense functions. Order 13234 presidential task force on citizen preparedness in

the war on terrorism. Order 13260 establishing the president's homeland security

advisory council and senior advisory committees for homeland security. Order 13354

creation of the national counterterrorism center. Order 13388 further strengthening the

sharing of terrorism Information to protect Americans. Order 13407 established a public

George W. Bush had to sustain a lot of disasters during his time in office, allowing for the

development of DHS to truly begin and progress further to better handle disasters that come. The

next administration to take office would still have to handle terrorist threats and further develop

DHS since terrorist attacks were still in the front of every one’s minds. President Obama

expanded off the Bush administration and wrote a few Executive orders into effect. These

executive orders were the following 13603, involving the national defense preparedness, 13636

security and resilience of the United States with systematic preparation. This preparation focused

on a few areas such as terrorism, natural disasters, cyberwarfare, and pandemics (Homeland,

2018).

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The Department of Homeland Security is a very vast agency, and it will need continuous

history, from the wisdom of others and our own experiences. We must be prepped for what is to

come, whether it may be flooding, earthquakes or a crippling blizzard we must be prepared for it.