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Third, the private sector should conduct risk assessments to identify threats,
vulnerabilities, and criticalities in the national infrastructure. These assessments would support
corporate governance and protect economic assets. Fourth, the President recommended the
creation of state Homeland Security Task Forces to act as coordinating bodies and intermediaries
between the federal government Anti-terrorism Task Forces in each federal judicial district and
local first responders.
In practice, most of this coordination remains to be developed (Council on Foreign
Relations 2002). Information sharing across levels of government remains sporadic at best.
State and local police officials have little access to the federal government’s anti-terrorism watch
lists. Most of the border security effort remains focused on airline security. Very little attention
has been paid to cargo security, especially to the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction.
First responders have received little training for chemical and biological emergencies. In
addition, much of the funding promised to first responders in the FY 2003 homeland security has
been delayed by congressional failure to pass the budget. Most of America’s energy
infrastructure remains unprotected from terrorist attack. Moreover, legal barriers hinder the
development of public-private partnerships to remedy many of these problems. Questions of
anti-trust conflicts, proprietary information security under the Freedom of Information Act, and
corporate liability all inhibit more extensive public-private collaboration.
Successful Reorganization and Mission Compatibility
Students of government reorganization have identified several critical factors in the
overall success of such reorganizations (USGAO 1995, 1; see also Hult 1987). First, successful
reorganizations demand an integrated approach. Second, reorganization plans should achieve
specific, identifiable goals. Third, policy designers and agency planners must choose the
appropriate vehicle for accomplishing the goals. Fourth, successful reorganization requires
successful implementation. Fifth, successful implementation requires oversight.
Convention