Bush proposes major federal reorganization

FROM THE ARCHIVE

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FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 2002

HOMELAND SECURITY: Proposed organizational structure.

President Bush on Thursday called for the creation of a new Cabinet department to handle security within United States borders, outlining the most significant restructuring of the federal government since World War II.

Bowing to members of Congress who pushed for an idea he initially rejected after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Bush proposed a multi-tiered organization whose goal would be ensuring the safety, health and welfare of American homelands. "We have concluded that our government must be reorganized to deal more effectively with the new threats of the 21st century," he said in televised remarks from the White House.

Called the Department of Homeland Security, the entity would assume a wide number of functions currently handled by far-flung parts of the federal bureaucracy. Under one secretary are four separate agencies to provide border and transportation security, prepare emergency preparedness and response programs, confront science and technology issues and collect and analyze terrorist intelligence.

The largest of these bureaus would draw about 156,000 employees and $24 billion in funding and resources from at least five other agencies in order to protect America's borders with Canada and Mexico and ensure the safety of the skies. This reorganization has an impact on reservations in New York, Arizona and other states where tribal and Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement handle policing with the Border Patrol.

The other bureaus would be much smaller in comparison, with emergency response subsuming 5,300 employees and $8.4 billion in funds. Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear programs would require nearly 600 employees and $3.6 billion while information handling would take about 1,000 people and $364 million.

The Secret Service, currently overseen by the Department of Treasury, would transfer in whole to the new department. In total, Homeland Security would employ approximately 170,000 and require a reprogramming of $37 billion in fiscal year 2003 funds that Congress has yet to appropriate.

At the Department of Interior, the shift impacts mostly law enforcement, including the 550 BIA officers serving Indian Country. Tribes contract and hire their own forces, which number around 2,000.

Bush's proposal envisions continued partnerships with state and local governments in order to streamline federal funds and resources without duplicating efforts. Tribes weren't specifically mentioned in documents prepared by the White House though.

The Department of Justice, responsible for investigation and prosecution of major crimes in Indian Country, is also affected. The FBI and U.S. Attorneys, which carry out reservation-specific duties, are among the entities the Bush proposal anticipates playing a major role.

Existing programs within the Department of Health and Human Services move to new department although the Indian Health Service would not be among them, according to the draft plan. The emphasis here was on preventing bioterrorism and being able to deal with chemical threats.

Only Congress can create a new department and Bush wants both chambers to act swiftly and before the end of the year. "We face an urgent need," he said.

The proposal calls for Homeland Security to be established by January 1, 2003, although reorganization will not be complete at that time. There is no date anticipated for a fully-staffed and operational department.

The last Cabinet department created was Veterans Affairs in 1989.

Relevant Homeland Security Documents:
Executive Summary | White House Proposal

Speeches and Transcripts:
Text: Bush | Video Excerpts: Bush | Background Briefing: 'Senior' Official | White House Briefing

Relevant Links:
The Department of Homeland Security, White House - http://www.whitehouse.gov/deptofhomeland