The Department of Homeland Security deals with domestic emergencies, including terrorism, and has absorbed other parts of the government. It has over 200,000 employees and spends billions of dollars annually. The department oversees immigration, the US Coast Guard, and mail interception. It also works with the private sector to improve internet security. The department has been criticized for misuse of funds, ineffectiveness, and slow response times to disasters.
The Department of Homeland Security is part of the United States government and deals with domestic emergencies, especially terrorism. This department has absorbed many other parts of government since its creation, including the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The department also deals with computer security; for example, in 2011 it hijacked a sports streaming website before a major sporting event in the United States. It was created in 2001 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The department is criticized by many for misuse of funds, ineffectiveness, and more.
As the third largest cabinet department in the US government, the Department of Homeland Security has more than 200,000 employees. It spends billions of US dollars every year to find and protect itself from terrorists. The agencies, advisory groups, and other components that make up this department oversee immigration, the US Coast Guard, and mail interception. The department also maintains an informational website on emergency preparedness, such as how to put together an emergency supplies kit.
The rapid growth and roles of e-commerce and information technology have made cybersecurity a top priority for the Department of Homeland Security. In fact, the department works with the country’s private sector to encourage improvements to Internet security. Current and proposed US cybersecurity regulations have generated mixed reactions. Many people are in favor of more secure software, but others believe the government may introduce costly laws for companies or limit the ability to improve cybersecurity in other ways.
An Office of Homeland Security was created in response to a series of terrorist attacks in the United States but soon grew into a department. Nearly two dozen agencies have been placed in the department, all considered related to national security. These agencies included the United States Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and National Communication Systems.
The activities of the Department of Homeland Security have been widely criticized. That is to say, the department can intercept and read the mail without any explanation to the recipient. Additionally, employees misused company credit cards and then lost merchandise. The department also attracted a lot of attention when its response to Hurricane Katrina, a major natural disaster in the southern United States, was considered slow. For example, one agency had hundreds of firefighters ready to volunteer, but first sent them to learn about sexual harassment prevention and the agency’s history for two days.
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