Homeland Security Before 9/11
History of US Homeland Security
While the term “homeland security” was not part of the American speech until after 9/11, the concept of securing our homeland and borders has existed under different names and agencies. During the Cold War, the country was focused on the concept of “civil defense”, especially protecting ourselves from a nuclear disaster.
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National Security Act
The National Security Act of 1947 mandated a major reorganization of the foreign policy and military establishments of the U.S. Government. The act created many of the institutions that Presidents found useful when formulating and implementing foreign policy, including the National Security Council (NSC).
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The Council itself included the President, Vice President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and other members, who met at the White House to discuss both long-term problems and more immediate national security crises. A small NSC staff was hired to coordinate foreign policy materials from other agencies for the President. Beginning in 1953 the President's Assistant for National Security Affairs directed this staff. Each President has accorded the NSC with different degrees of importance and has given the NSC staff varying levels of autonomy and influence over other agencies such as the Departments of State and Defense.
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Establishment of CIA
"The act also established the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which grew out of World War II era Office of Strategic Services and small post-war intelligence organizations. The CIA served as the primary civilian intelligence-gathering organization in the government. Later, the Defense Intelligence Agency became the main military intelligence body. The 1947 law also caused far-reaching changes in the military establishment. The War Department and Navy Department merged into a single Department of Defense under the Secretary of Defense, who also directed the newly created Department of the Air Force. However, each of the three branches maintained their own service secretaries. In 1949 the act was amended to give the Secretary of Defense more power over the individual services and their secretaries." |
Hart-Rudman Commision
In July of 1998, Congress created the Hart-Rudman Commission. The commission’s report was released in 1999 and contained conclusions that were, in hindsight, prophetic. They predicted a different security landscape and America's increasing vulnerability to attacks. It's final report, released 7 months before the 9/11 attacks, called for a Homeland Security Agency that would coordinate government activities.
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