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Organizing the U.S. Government for National Security: Overview of the Interagency Reform Debates
Title: Organizing the U.S. Government for National Security: Overview of the Interagency Reform Debates
Date: April 18, 2008
Author: Catherine Dale, et al.
Institution: Congressional Research Service
Bibliographic Entry: Dale, Catherine, et al. “Organizing the U.S. Government for National Security: Overview of the Interagency Reform Debates.” April 18, 2008. Congressional Research Service. http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34455_20080418.pdf (Accessed May 28, 2008).
Electronic Link: http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34455_20080418.pdf
Key Words: national security strategy, framework, threats, debate, reform, security policy
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
This report follows the emerging debates by Congress, the executive branch, and think tanks over proposed reforms to the current national security framework. Those pushing for reform maintain that the US government needs to be reorganized to better implement national power for national security activities. The report argues that the framework accommodating the bipolar world during the time of the Soviet Union is no longer applicable in today’s post-9/11 world.
The national security strategy, once targeted at containing Soviet expansionism with massive military force, must now adapt to confront state-based threats, non-state threats, and transnational threats. “[O]rganized crime, energy security concerns, cyber attacks, and epidemic disease” are listed as part of the new array of challenges that the national security strategy must meet. Critics point to Hurricane Katrina, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom as incidents which have exposed flaws in the current national security framework.
The report identifies seven key problems with the “national security system” raised by critics:
- Civilian agency capacity is too limited
- DOD role is too large
- Interagency coordination and integration mechanisms are insufficient
- National security decision-making is not rigorous
- National security strategy-making lacks sufficient guidelines
- Resources and strategies do not match
- Congressional oversight is poorly structured
The report concludes by identifying seven proposed reforms:
- Adjust the balance of roles and responsibilities
- Foster horizontal integration
- Create a new coordination body
- Require greater rigor in national security decision-making
- Strengthen guidance in the national security strategy
- Create a national security budget
- Reorganize Congressional oversight
Name of Researcher: Nathan Brown
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: May 29, 2008