What is the impact on agencies with  homeland security missions left out of the new department? In the President’s proposal, the new Department of Homeland Security  would be responsible for conducting a national scientific research and  development program, including developing national policy and  coordinating the federal government’s civilian efforts to counter chemical,  biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons or other emerging terrorist  threats. Proposed Department Could Improve Coordination of Research and Development Programs

The proposed Department of Homeland Security would be tasked with  developing national policy for and coordinating the federal government’s  civilian research and development efforts to counter chemical, biological,  radiological, and nuclear threats. Transfer of Control Over Dual-Purpose Research and Development Raises Concern

We are concerned about the implications of the proposed transfer of  control and priority setting for dual-purpose research programs. The proposal to transfer to the new department responsibility for research  and development programs that would continue to be carried out by HHS  raises many concerns. Homeland Security: New Department Could Improve Coordination but  May Complicate Public Health Priority Setting.
What GAO Found

Title III of the proposed Homeland Security Act of 2002 would transfer responsibility for certain chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear research and development programs and activities to the new department. The proposed Department of Homeland Security would develop national policy for, and coordination of, the federal government's civilian research and development efforts to counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. Although the new department could improve coordination of existing research and development programs, the proposed transfer of control and priority setting for research from the organizations where the research would be conducted could be disruptive. Transferring control over these programs, including priority setting, to the new department has the potential to disrupt some programs that are critical to basic public health. The President's proposal is not clear on how both the homeland security and the biomedical research objectives would be accomplished. However, if an agency's mission fits with homeland security, its transfer to the new department is appropriate.