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U.S. Department of Homeland Security
From SourceWatch
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a Cabinet level reconstruction of the former Office of Homeland Security. President George W. Bush proposed the creation of the Department in June 2002 to overcome "the current confusing patchwork of government activities into a single department whose primary mission is to protect our homeland." [1]
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The first six months
In April 2003, Philip Shenon noted in the New York Times that many of the staffers who had been appointed by Tom Ridge after the September 11, 2001 attacks had become "lobbyists whose corporate clients want contracts from Mr. Ridge's multibillion-dollar agency." [2] The agency later introduced guidlines it claimed would limit the scope of former staff to receive special favors from officials. [3]
In a six month performance review in September 2003, John Mintz of the Washington Post reported that the agency was "hobbled by money woes, disorganization, turf battles and unsteady support from the White House, and has made only halting progress toward its goals" and that "So few people want to work at the department that more than 15 people declined requests to apply for the top post in its intelligence unit -- and many others turned down offers to run several other key offices." [4]
In February 23, 2004, New York-WABC reported that "millions in taxpayer dollars going to protect some of the nation's wealthiest companies. It is an allocation of scarce Homeland Security funds that, some say, defies common sense." [5]
Propaganda, homeland style
In October 2004, a draft public relations plan for the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Customs and Border Protection bureau was leaked to the media. The plan, authored by Bush administration political appointee Kristi M. Clemens (a former Coalition Provisional Authority spokesperson for L. Paul Bremer in Iraq), was "designed to 'change perception' about the nation's security by repeating the message, in the weeks leading up to the presidential election, that America is safer," reported the Washington Post. Clemens called it "a draft communications plan intended to spur debate," and said the PR plan "was never shared outside of my staff nor executed." [6]
Highlights of the PR plan, which "was given to the public affairs field officers in mid-September at a planning meeting in Washington," included: [7]
- MESSAGE: "America is safer today because of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency is doing everything in its power to protect our nation at and beyond her borders from terrorists and terrorist weapons, while facilitating global trade routes and fostering economic security."
- OBJECTIVE: "To change perception through continuous, consistent and highly credible information."
- Other information: The draft PR plan "calls on the public affairs officials to 'Maximize media' and 'Brand CBP'," suggests using "surrogates" to spread the agency's message, and implementing a "theme of the month," with the following themes: "OCTOBER: Border Patrol. NOVEMBER: Agriculture. DECEMBER: Trade." Specific media targets mentioned included "Editorial Board with Washington Times," "Morning Shows" and to pitch exclusive" to "FOX 3-4 part series ending with the Commissioner Live in studio. Geraldo or as backup Dr. Bob Arnot with MSNBC."
Personnel
- Janet Napolitano, Secretary
- Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- David L. Norquist, Chief Financial Officer (nominated January 17, 2006)
Contact details
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
Phone: 202-282-8000
Web: http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm
