This document discusses one of the most important issues of our time, the reorganization of government agencies and the reorientation of their missions to improve our nation's ability to better protect our homeland. It is important to recognize that this transition to a more effective homeland security approach is part of a larger transformation effort that our government must make to address emerging security, economic, demographic, scientific, technological, fiscal and other challenges of the 21st century and to meet the expectations of the American people for timely, quality and cost-effective public services. In the months since the horrible events of September 11th, the President and the Congress have responded with important and aggressive actions to protect the nation, including creating an Office of Homeland Security (OHS), passing new laws such as the USA Patriot Act and an initial emergency supplemental spending bill, establishing a new agency to improve transportation security, and working with unprecedented collaboration with federal, state, and local governments, private sector entities, non-governmental organizations, and other countries to prevent future terrorist acts and to bring to justice those individuals responsible for such terrible acts.

The United States General Accounting Office (GAO) presents a report entitled "Critical Infrastructure Protection: Significant Challenges in Developing National Capabilities," published in April 2001. The report is for the Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information of the Committee on the Judiciary for the U.S. Senate. The report discusses the progress of the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) in developing national capabilities for analyzing cyber threat and vulnerability data and enhancing capabilities for responding to cyber attacks.

This is a review of governmentwide changes and challenges prevalent in the missions and activities of agencies involved in homeland security, including the coordination and collaboration required to meet overall goals and needs, and government's efforts in planning and implementing strategic, transitional, and human capital activities designed to reorganize and strengthen homeland security. The federal government's response on homeland security issues is still evolving. The federal government's efforts to improve homeland security will require a results-oriented approach to ensure mission accountability and sustainability over time. Charts and tables.