Center for American Progress Center for American Progress
Issues National Security Homeland Security

Homeland Security

Top Features

Safe at Home

Safe at Home

By reordering our strategic homeland security objectives, we can make Americans safer both at home and abroad, argues P.J. Crowley in a new report.
Toxic Trains and the Terrorist Threat

Toxic Trains and the Terrorist Threat

New report outlines how water utilities can get chlorine gas off of railways and out of American communities.
Keeping Bombs Off Planes

Keeping Bombs Off Planes

P.J. Crowley and Bruce R. Butterworth release a new report outlining how Congress can make America safer by securing air cargo.

Other Homeland Security Features

November 19, 2008

Interactive Map: The 101 Most Dangerous Chemical Facilities

This map shows 101 of the nation's most dangerous chemical facilities. The vast majority of these facilities could convert to safer, more secure chemicals or processes.
November 19, 2008

Chemical Security 101

Report from Paul Orum outlines how to make the most dangerous chemical facilities less attractive targets for terrorists. By Paul Orum, Reece Rushing
September 11, 2008

The Right Way to Remember 9/11

An incoming administration presents the opportunity to openly discuss how to make America safer, write P.J. Crowley and Michael Signer. By P.J. Crowley, Michael Signer
July 20, 2008

How the Next President Can Improve Homeland Security

Given terrorist attacks associated with recent political transitions in Spain, Britain and Pakistan, it is possible that someone inspired by al Qaeda will make another attempt in the United States over the next 18 months. While Sen. Barack Obama discussed the intersection of terrorism and technology earlier this week in Indiana, homeland security has not been a significant campaign issue thus far. But since terrorism could present the next president with his first crisis, there are a number of steps the next president should take, beginning literally the day after the election. By P.J. Crowley
June 25, 2008

No, You Can't Search My Laptop

Peter Swire testifies to a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on why laptop searches of Americans returning from overseas is a violation of privacy. By Peter Swire
June 18, 2008

Protecting Personal Information: Is the Federal Government Doing Enough?

Peter Swire testifies to the Senate Homeland Security Committee on how the government can best protect personal information. By Peter Swire
June 12, 2008

Securing Our Chemical Facilities Against Terrorism

P.J. Crowley testifies to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials on the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008. By P.J. Crowley
April 2, 2008

The Creation of a Home Guard for Domestic Preparedness

By Lawrence J. Korb, Ian Moss
March 5, 2008

Five Years Later, Are We Safe at Home?

Tomorrow President Bush will commemorate the Department of Homeland Security, but many security challenges remain, writes P.J. Crowley. By P.J. Crowley
February 28, 2008

A Not So Secure Border Initiative: The Failed Virtual Fence Project

P.J. Crowley details four steps that the United States needs to take to get border security—and homeland security—back on track. By P.J. Crowley
February 25, 2008

What Must Be Done

February 25, 2008

Reordering Our Priorities

A new Homeland Security Strategy must match risks to threat levels, our level of vulnerability, and the consequences to our society and economy. Here are our top ten national security priorities, in order of importance. By P.J. Crowley
February 25, 2008

Making Our Nation as Safe as it Can Be

What can the next administration do to begin shifting our homeland security strategy in a new direction? CAP's Crowley has the answers. By P.J. Crowley
February 4, 2008

Bush’s Budget Repeats Cybersecurity Mistakes

Bush proposal likely to require installing sensors on private company networks, a practice discarded in 1999 for good reason, writes Peter Swire. By Peter Swire
February 1, 2008

Changing To Meet New Challenges

New report from the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves shows that we must adapt to meet modern day challenges, says P.J. Crowley. By P.J. Crowley
January 24, 2008

New Regulations Fail to Address Security, Privacy

New ID regulations will change driver’s licenses while putting millions of Americans’ personal information at risk.
January 22, 2008

This Week in Congress: 1.22.08-1.25.08

From economic stimulus to global warming and health care, CAP provides you with resources to say on top of the week on the Hill.
January 22, 2008

Haywire FCC Spectrum Auction: U.S. Needs National Broadband Strategy

The FCC sale weakens national security and emergency preparedness, warns Mark Lloyd. There’s another way. By Mark Lloyd
December 12, 2007

Proper Implementation of Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Is a Must

Tomorrow's House hearing on Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards will hopefully enable the DHS to properly implement the standards.
November 13, 2007

Derailed Train Exposes Weakness in Rail Security

Stronger rail security could prevent an incident like last week's derailment in Washington, DC from being a major chemical disaster, writes PJ Crowley.
November 6, 2007

A Deadly Dance on Chemical Security Regulation

The Department of Homeland Security takes two steps forward and one step back with its new hazardous material regulations. By P.J. Crowley
October 31, 2007

Safeguarding Liberty and Security Under FISA

Morton Halperin testifies to the Senate Judiciary Committee about what procedures should be put in place to make transparent the rules of FISA. By Morton H. Halperin
October 22, 2007

Crib Sheet: "Islamofascism"

By Annika Carlson, Sarah Dreier
October 11, 2007

Homeland Security for Dummies

Senior Fellow P.J. Crowley examines the Bush administration’s new homeland security report and finds it reads more like a how-to than a strategy. By P.J. Crowley
October 10, 2007

Toxic Trains Close to Home

The train derailing in Ohio again clarifies the need for increased security measures on our nation’s rails.
October 9, 2007

This Week in Congress: 10.8.07-10.12.07

From the housing market to homeland security, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
October 4, 2007

Safe Shipping

Ensuring the security of our ports is an essential component of securing the borders against potential terrorist attacks.
October 1, 2007

This Week in Congress: 10.1.07 - 10.7.07

From the appropriations process to the genocide in Darfur, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
September 20, 2007

Insuring Against Terrorism

As long as the U.S. faces a significant threat from terrorist networks, we must ensure the economy is properly protected, says P.J. Crowley. By P.J. Crowley
September 17, 2007

This Week in Congress: 9.17.07-9.21.07

From U.S. strategy in Iraq to improving elementary school education, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
September 14, 2007

Katrina Timeline: Failures of Reconstruction

After Katrina, the president pledged the government would help save New Orleans. A timeline catalogs two years of broken promises.
September 10, 2007

This Week in Congress: 9.10.07-9.14.07

From U.S. strategy in Iraq to improving elementary school education, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week on the Hill.
September 5, 2007

CAP Interviews John Feal, 9/11 First Responder and Founder of the FealGood Foundation

John Feal was a 9/11 first responder who has made it his mission to help other heroes in need of medical care and financial assistance.
August 31, 2007

Katrina, Two Years Later

Ruy Teixeira finds that the public thinks government efforts to rebuild and prevent the root cause of worsening storms are falling short. By Ruy Teixeira
August 31, 2007

Two Years Later, It’s Still Two Cities

Angela Glover Blackwell argues that red tape and an uneven recovery effort in New Orleans have left the vulnerable behind. By Angela Glover Blackwell
August 29, 2007

New Orleans by the Numbers: A City Struggles to Rebuild

A slideshow depicting life in New Orleans two years after Katrina. The city's residents are soldiering on despite a mismanaged reconstruction effort.
August 27, 2007

Interactive Map: Progress in the Parishes

An interactive map shows how recovery efforts are progressing in each of New Orleans' parishes. Two years after Katrina, the city is still struggling.
August 23, 2007

Safeguarding the American People: The Progressive Vision vs. the Bush Record

Reece Rushing compares the conservative record of government sabotage with a progressive vision for safeguarding Americans. By Reece Rushing
August 20, 2007

The Terrorism Index

CAP and FOREIGN POLICY find that top security experts believe the world is becoming more dangerous for the U.S. and the American people.
July 24, 2007

Confronting Security Vulnerabilities

CAP Director of Homeland Security P.J. Crowley testifies to Congress on vulnerabilities to U.S. homeland security. By P.J. Crowley
July 23, 2007

This Week in Congress: 7.23.07 – 7.27.07

From appropriations bills to the Farm Bill, CAP provides you with resources to stay on top of the week in Congress.
July 23, 2007

Nuclear Summer

Cirincione and Leventer discuss this summer’s dramatic reminder of all four nuclear threats and the harbinger of a fifth. By Joseph Cirincione, Uri Leventer
July 17, 2007

Toxic Trains Threaten Safety

Deadly train accident in Ukraine should act as a wake up call that we need to act swiftly to prevent a similar tragedy in the United States
July 3, 2007

Air Cargo by the Numbers: Keeping Bombs Off Planes

With heavy air traffic over the July 4th holiday and recent bomb scares in London, we’re taking a by-the-numbers look at strengthening air cargo.
June 26, 2007

Habeas Corpus Extends to Gitmo

Bush may or may not close Gitmo, but Congress still needs to ensure anyone can challenge their confinement in court, says Ken Gude. By Ken Gude
June 7, 2007

One Small Step for Biosecurity: CAP Reform Proposal Bears Fruit

The Bush administration’s troubled BioShield program finds its feet thanks to change in financing terms promoted by CAP experts.
May 31, 2007

Map: Our Overstretched National Guard

An interactive map depicts a National Guard stretched so thin by overseas deployments that it is unprepared to respond to crises at home.
May 27, 2007

Over Here

By Lawrence J. Korb
May 10, 2007

Resolving the Deadliest Nuclear Threats

Cirincione outlines a strategy for addressing nuclear threats from terrorism, fuel technology, new weapon states, and existing arsenals. By Joseph Cirincione
May 7, 2007

The Homeland Security Twist

Iraq and environmental policies are leaving Americans vulnerable to what is shaping into the busiest and deadliest tornado season yet.

» More

Where We Stand on Homeland Security

The United States needs a comprehensive and balanced strategy to protect the homeland that encompassing five strategic objectives: prevent terrorist attack, reduce our vulnerability to terrorism, prepare to respond and recover from an attack or natural and man-made disasters, sustain homeland security consistent with our American values, and shape the global environment to reduce the threat of terrorism. The federal government must provide real leadership, take aggressive action, display consistent oversight, dedicate sufficient resources, and direct greater support to cities, states, and the private sector so that we can effectively manage the risk associated with a wide range of long-term challenges.