Homeland Security: Effective Intergovernmental Coordination is	 
Key to Success (22-AUG-02, GAO-02-1012T).			 
                                                                 
The challenges posed by homeland security exceed the capacity and
authority of any one level of government. Protecting the nation  
against these threats calls for a truly integrated approach,	 
bringing together the resources of all levels of government. The 
proposed Department of Homeland Security will clearly have a	 
central role in efforts to enhance homeland security. The	 
proposed consolidation of homeland security programs has the	 
potential to reduce fragmentation, improve coordination, and	 
clarify roles and responsibilities. Realistically, the challenges
that the new department faces will clearly require substantial	 
time and effort, and it will take additional resources to make it
effective. Moreover, formation of a department should not be	 
considered a replacement for the timely issuance of a national	 
homeland security strategy to guide implementation of the complex
mission of the department. Appropriate roles and responsibilities
within prompting a reassessment and shifting of longstanding	 
roles and responsibilities, but these shifts are being considered
on a piecemeal and ad hoc basis without benefit of an overarching
framework and criteria to guide the process. A national strategy 
could provide such guidance by more systematically identifying	 
the unique capacities and resources of each level of government  
to enhance homeland security and by providing increased 	 
accountability within the intergovernmental system. The nation	 
does not yet have performance goals and measures upon which to	 
assess and improve preparedness and develop common criteria that 
can demonstrate success, promote accountability and determine	 
areas where additional resources are needed, such as improving	 
communications and equipment interoperability. A careful choice  
of the most appropriate tools is critical to achieve and sustain 
national goals. The choice and design of policy tools, such as	 
grants, regulations, and tax incentives, can enhance the capacity
of all levels of government to target areas of highest risk and  
greatest need, promote shared responsibilities, and track assess 
progress toward achieving preparedness goals.			 
-------------------------Indexing Terms------------------------- 
REPORTNUM:   GAO-02-1012T					        
    ACCNO:   A04673						        
  TITLE:     Homeland Security: Effective Intergovernmental	      
Coordination is Key to Success					 
     DATE:   08/22/2002 
  SUBJECT:   Counterterrorism					 
	     Emergency preparedness				 
	     Intergovernmental relations			 
	     National defense operations			 
	     National preparedness				 
	     Terrorism						 
	     Emergency Management Accreditation 		 
	     Program						 
                                                                 
	     Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic			 
	     Preparedness Program