	Improvements to Homeland Security Are in Process

Legislative and executive branch action has led to a variety of  governmentwide and agency-specific initiatives, started and ongoing, to  enhance homeland security. Public and Private Sectors Seek Both Direction From and Partnership With the Office of Homeland Security

Our ongoing work indicates that federal agencies, state and local  governments, and the private sector are looking for guidance from the  Office of Homeland Security on how to better integrate their missions and  more effectively contribute to the overarching homeland security effort. Some of these officials believed that it was essential that the concept and  related terms be defined, particularly because homeland security  initiatives are crosscutting, and a clear definition promotes a common  understanding of operational plans and requirements, and can help avoid  duplication of effort and gaps in coverage. Although some agencies are looking to the Office of Homeland Security  for guidance on how their agencies should be integrated into the overall  security effort and to explain what else they should be doing beyond their  traditional missions, they also want their viewpoints incorporated as this  guidance evolves. If it is to be comprehensive, a national strategy should address many of  these issues. Y2K Style Partnerships Can Be Useful in Promoting Public-Private Participation for Homeland Security

Once the homeland security strategy is developed, participating public and  private sector organizations will need to understand and prepare for their  defined roles under the strategy.
What GAO Found

Enhancing homeland security is a complex effort that involves all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories; thousands of municipalities; and countless private entities. Since September 11, the nation has taken many actions to combat terrorism and enhance homeland security. It is well known that the U.S. military is conducting operations in Afghanistan. Various legislative and executive branch actions to enhance homeland security have been taken or were underway prior to and since September 11. Government and nongovernment activities are looking to the Office of Homeland Security for further guidance on how to better integrate their missions and more effectively contribute to the overarching homeland security effort. Having a common definition can help avoid duplication of effort and gaps in coverage by identifying agency roles and responsibilities. Although the agencies are looking for guidance, they also want to ensure that their unique missions are factored in as guidance is developed. At the same time, some agencies are unsure what they should be doing beyond their traditional missions. Once the national strategy is issued, federal, state, and local government agencies and private sector groups will need to work together to achieve the goals and objectives. Public-private partnerships used to address Y2K concerns can also be used to promote the national strategy.