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Strategic Objective

Goal 1.1: Prevent Terrorist Attacks

Strategic Objective

Prevent Terrorist Attacks

Themes:

National Defense

DHS.gov

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Overview
Progress Update

Overview

Progress Update

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), has determined that performance toward this goal is making noteworthy progress.

Introduction
DHS applies a multifaceted approach to preventing terrorist attacks in the United States, focusing on risk-based passenger and cargo screening, intelligence and information-sharing, and working beyond our borders to deter and disrupt threats at the earliest point possible. DHS performs and oversees security operations at the Nation’s airports, screening hundreds of millions of passengers annually to ensure the freedom of movement of people and commerce. Through these efforts, DHS has continued to increase security, achieve system-wide efficiencies, and shortened wait times for the traveling public.

Major Achievements
DHS continues to fuse and analyze information from the Intelligence Community, other government agencies, and our foreign partners. DHS created and disseminated products—such as Roll Call Releases, Joint Intelligence Bulletins, Intelligence Assessments, and TRIPwire—to frontline security and law enforcement partners to assist in their counterterrorism efforts.

DHS developed new technologies to aid in video surveillance, biometrics, and identity management to be used to detect, deter, and disrupt potential terrorist activities. DHS reduces risk of the flow of passengers and commerce by scanning cargo identified as high risk, updating terrorist watchlists used in vetting and screening operations, implementing biometric vetting systems to better assess immigration benefits applicants, and enhancing security at maritime and surface transportation facilities.

DHS enrolled over 3.6 million travelers in its Trusted Traveler Programs, advanced participation by 11 airlines, and implemented some form of expedited aviation/customs and immigration screening at over 120 airports as of September 30, 2014. These efforts increased security effectiveness, improved the passenger experience, and achieved efficiencies through targeted reallocation of screening resources.

DHS created programs to counter violent extremism, including Community Awareness Briefings and Community Resiliency Exercises to help communities understand and address terrorist recruitment tactics, and to build partnerships between communities and law enforcement. In addition, DHS held over 100 community engagement events (as of September 30, 2014) and provided cultural competency trainings to law enforcement personnel across the country.

Major Challenges & Opportunities for Improvement
A dynamic threat environment—coupled with lengthy technology development, testing, acquisition, and deployment processes—presents challenges in quickly responding with the most current technology. Consequently, DHS must accurately determine the best use of resources in most efficiently and effectively fulfilling its mission. Intelligence-driven, risk-based approaches, supported by streamlined operations, have proven successful in several instances. Public-private partnerships also present opportunities to share security costs. The implementation of risk-based screening to identify potential threats while providing a positive experience for the traveling public is a careful balancing act. DHS is responding to information released by the DHS Office of the Inspector General after this review was completed so as to best manage risk, cost, and impact on the traveling public.

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Strategic Goals

Strategic Goal:

Mission 1: Prevent terrorism and enhance security

Statement:

Prevent terrorism and enhance security

Strategic Objectives

Goal 1.1: Prevent Terrorist Attacks

Statement:

Prevent Terrorist Attacks

Description:

We will pursue the following strategies to prevent terrorist attacks:

Analyze, fuse, and disseminate terrorism information by sharing information with, and utilizing threat analysis alongside, stakeholders across the homeland security enterprise. We remain committed to integrating critical data sources, such as those for biometric data, by consolidating or federating screening and vetting operations. We will also continually increase and integrate domain awareness capabilities, as well as improve our ability to fully utilize vast amounts of intelligence and other information—the so-called "big data" challenge—while rigorously protecting privacy and civil rights and civil liberties.
Deter and disrupt operations by leveraging the intelligence, information sharing, technological, operational, and policy-making elements within DHS to facilitate a cohesive and coordinated operational response. We will also develop intelligence sources and leverage research and analysis to identify and illustrate the tactics, behaviors, and indicators potentially associated with violent extremism as well as factors that may influence violent extremism, and jointly develop with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners training for frontline law enforcement officers on behaviors that may be telling regarding violent extremist activity.
Strengthen transportation security by using a multi-layered risk-based approach to detect malicious actors and dangerous items at various entry and exit points in the travel and trade system. We will also improve coordination with foreign governments and stakeholders to expand pre-departure screening and enhance transportation security operations among willing partners to mitigate risks from overseas.
Counter violent extremism by: 1) supporting community-community-based problem solving and integration efforts, as well as local law enforcement programs; and 2) working with our partners to share information with frontline law enforcement partners, communities, families, and the private sector about how violent extremists are using the Internet and how to protect themselves and their communities.

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FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Strengthen aviation security counterterrorism capabilities by using intelligence driven information and risk-based decisions.

Statement:

Strengthen aviation security counterterrorism capabilities and improve the passenger experience by using intelligence driven information and risk-based decisions. By September 30, 2015, TSA will expand the use of risk-based security initiatives to increase the percentage of travelers eligible for expedited screening at airports to 50 percent and enhance the passenger experience.

Description:

TSA performs and oversees security operations at the nation’s airports, screening over 650 million passengers annually, to ensure the freedom of movement of people and commerce. In an effort to strengthen aviation security while enhancing the passenger experience, TSA is focusing on risk-based, intelligence-driven security procedures and enhancing its use of technology. Since 2011, the agency has implemented several risk-based initiatives including the TSA Preü™ expedited screening program; the nationwide implementation of modified screening protocols for passengers 12 and younger, passengers 75 and over, and active duty service members; expediting physical screening of Veterans on chartered Honor Flights; and providing modified screening to Wounded Warriors. A number of initiatives will further enable TSA to reach its goal of expanding expedited screening for known populations in order to focus on those that are unknown including the development and deployment of the TSA Pre✓™ Application and TSA Risk Assessment programs; expansion of TSA Pre✓™participation to international air carrier; continued expansion of the Known Crewmember program; and developing operational policies, procedures, and other activities such as the evolution of checkpoint screening technologies to support deployment of Risk Assessments that will grow the volume of passengers eligible for expedited screening.

As of December 2013, on a weekly basis, more than 32% of passengers receive some form of expedited screening, and TSA expects to continue to grow that number. While driving the growth of eligible populations is key to the initiative’s long term success, TSA faces challenges in aligning, planning, and executing activities for incorporating these various populations. The success of achieving TSA’s risk-based security milestones is in many ways reliant upon external and internal partners that TSA continues to work with to mitigate these challenges.

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Goal 1.2: Prevent and Protect Against the Unauthorized Acquisition or Use of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Materials and Capabilities

Statement:

Prevent and Protect Against the Unauthorized Acquisition or Use of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Materials and Capabilities

Description:

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats are enduring areas of concern. The consequences of these attacks are potentially high even though the likelihood of their occurrence is relatively low. Small scale chemical attacks are expected to remain more likely because the relative lack of specialized skills and knowledge required to conduct such attacks. However, nuclear terrorism and bioterrorism pose the most strategically significant risk because of their potential consequences. Although the difficulty of stealing a nuclear weapon or fabricating one from stolen or diverted weapons materials reduces the likelihood of this type of attack, the extremely high consequences of an improvised nuclear device attack make it an ongoing top homeland security risk.

We will pursue the following strategies to prevent and protect against the unauthorized acquisition or use of chemical biological, radiological, and nuclear materials and capabilities:

Anticipate chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear emerging threats by identifying and understanding potentially dangerous actors, technologies, and materials, and prioritizing research and development activities including: 1) analyses of alternative technology options; 2) assessments of complex issues such as the relative risk of different chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats; 3) experimentation and operational test and evaluation of technologies proposed for acquisition; 4) detailed technical characterization of potential biological threat organisms; 5) the creation of consensus standards that enable cost-effective progress across many fields; and 6) the determination of nuclear material characteristics through nuclear forensics techniques.
Identify and interdict unlawful acquisition and movement of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear precursors and materials by leveraging investigative and enforcement assets towards domestic and international movement of these materials and by engaging in information sharing with all stakeholders to monitor and control this technology.
Detect, locate, and prevent the hostile use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials and weapons by 1) combining authorities and assets with other departments and agencies; 2) building the U.S. Government’s global nuclear detection capability through the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture, a framework for detecting (through technical and non-technical means), analyzing, and reporting on nuclear and other radioactive materials that are out of regulatory control; 3) advancing nuclear forensics capabilities in order to close down nuclear smuggling networks, promote global nuclear security, and deter would-be nation state terrorist facilitators from transferring nuclear materials to terrorists; 4) providing unimpeachable forensic data for use by law enforcement authorities in the investigation and prosecution of crimes involving biological agents; 5) regulating high-risk chemical facilities to ensure that they take proper steps to mitigate risks; and 6) preventing the occurrence of significant biological incidents, where possible, but, when unable to prevent, stopping them from overwhelming the capacity of our state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to manage and respond. To this last point, DHS will deploy technologies that enable early detection of biological agents prior to the onset of symptoms, pursue more rapid responder capabilities, and increase the capacity and effectiveness of local public health, medical, and emergency services.

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FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Strengthen aviation security counterterrorism capabilities by using intelligence driven information and risk-based decisions.

Statement:

Description:

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Goal 1.3: Reduce Risk to the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure, Key Leadership, and Events

Statement:

Reduce Risk to the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure, Key Leadership, and Events

Description:

DHS has national leadership responsibility for enhancing security to the Nation’s critical infrastructure and protecting key leaders, facilities, and National Special Security Events. DHS reduces risk across a wide portfolio of activities, including the agriculture and food sector, the travel and trade system, and the financial services sector. These systems are vulnerable to criminal exploitation and both physical and cyber-attacks. DHS also maintains constant guard over key leaders and during high-profile events, reducing the possibility that these events could be exploited by criminal or terrorist actors.

We will pursue the following strategies to reduce risk to the nation’s critical infrastructure, key leadership, and events:

Enhance security for the Nation’s critical infrastructure from terrorism and criminal activity by 1) identifying critical infrastructure and related vulnerabilities; 2) developing and deploying a scalable assessment methodology depending on the level of threat and the nature of the target; 3) inserting and/or developing appropriate technologies; 4) tracking protective measures of our partners across the homeland security enterprise; and 5) conducting investigations that maximize disruption of criminal enterprises that pose the greatest risk to the United States. We will also enhance the Nation’s ability to counter improvise explosive devices (IEDs) by coordinating whole community efforts to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate terrorist and criminal use of explosives.
Protect key leaders, facilities, and National Special Security Events by 1) working with partners across the homeland security enterprise to coordinate intelligence, information sharing, security, and response resources; 2) protecting the President, the Vice President, visiting heads of state, major Presidential candidates, and other designated protectees; 3) protecting federal facilities, employees, and visitors; and 4) assessing risk and coordinating support to partners during major special events across the Nation through the Special Events Assessment Rating.

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