[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
[August 27, 2004]
[Pages 1763-1765]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-11--Comprehensive 
Terrorist-Related Screening Procedures
August 27, 2004

Subject: Comprehensive Terrorist-Related Screening Procedures

    (1) In order more effectively to detect and interdict individuals 
known or reasonably suspected to be or have been engaged in conduct 
constituting, in preparation for, in aid of, or related to terrorism 
(``suspected terrorists'') and terrorist activities, it is the policy of 
the United States to:
       (a)   enhance terrorist-related screening (as defined below) 
            through comprehensive, coordinated procedures that detect, 
            identify, track, and interdict people, cargo, conveyances, 
            and other entities and objects that pose a threat to 
            homeland security, and to do so in a manner that safeguards 
            legal rights, including freedoms, civil liberties, and 
            information privacy guaranteed by Federal law, and builds 
            upon existing risk assessment capabilities while 
            facilitating the efficient movement of people, cargo, 
            conveyances, and other potentially affected activities in 
            commerce; and
       (b)   implement a coordinated and comprehensive approach to 
            terrorist-related screening--in immigration, law 
            enforcement, intelligence, counterintelligence, and 
            protection of the border, transportation systems, and 
            critical infrastructure--that supports homeland security, at 
            home and abroad.
    (2) This directive builds upon HSPD-6, ``Integration and Use of 
Screening Information to Protect Against Terrorism.'' The Terrorist 
Screening Center (TSC), which was established and is administered by the 
Attorney General pursuant to HSPD-6, enables Government officials to 
check individuals against a consolidated Terrorist Screening Center 
Database. Other screening activities underway within the Terrorist 
Threat Integration Center (TTIC) and the Department of Homeland Security 
further strengthen the ability of the United States Government to 
protect the people, property, and territory of the United States against 
acts of terrorism.
    (3) In this directive, the term ``terrorist-related screening'' 
means the collection,

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analysis, dissemination, and use of information related to people, 
cargo, conveyances, and other entities and objects that pose a threat to 
homeland security. Terrorist-related screening also includes risk 
assessment, inspection, and credentialing.
    (4) Not later than 75 days after the date of this directive, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney 
General, the Secretaries of State, Defense, Transportation, Energy, 
Health and Human Services, Commerce, and Agriculture, the Directors of 
Central Intelligence and the Office of Management and Budget, and the 
heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, shall 
submit to me, through the Assistant to the President for Homeland 
Security, a report setting forth plans and progress in the 
implementation of this directive, including as further described in 
sections 5 and 6 of this directive.
    (5) The report shall outline a strategy to enhance the effectiveness 
of terrorist-related screening activities, in accordance with the policy 
set forth in section 1 of this directive, by developing comprehensive, 
coordinated, systematic terrorist-related screening procedures and 
capabilities that also take into account the need to:
       (a)   maintain no less than current levels of security created by 
            existing screening and protective measures;
       (b)   encourage innovations that exceed established standards;
       (c)   ensure sufficient flexibility to respond rapidly to 
            changing threats and priorities;
       (d)   permit flexibility to incorporate advancements into 
            screening applications and technology rapidly;
       (e)   incorporate security features, including unpredictability, 
            that resist circumvention to the greatest extent possible;
       (f)   build upon existing systems and best practices and, where 
            appropriate, integrate, consolidate, or eliminate 
            duplicative systems used for terrorist-related screening;
       (g)   facilitate legitimate trade and travel, both domestically 
            and internationally;
       (h)   limit delays caused by screening procedures that adversely 
            impact foreign relations, or economic, commercial, or 
            scientific interests of the United States; and
       (i)   enhance information flow between various screening 
            programs.
    (6) The report shall also include the following:
       (a)   the purposes for which individuals will undergo terrorist-
            related screening;
       (b)   a description of the screening opportunities to which 
            terrorist-related screening will be applied;
       (c)   the information individuals must present, including, as 
            appropriate, the type of biometric identifier or other form 
            of identification or identifying information to be 
            presented, at particular screening opportunities;
       (d)   mechanisms to protect data, including during transfer of 
            information;
       (e)   mechanisms to address data inaccuracies, including names 
            inaccurately contained in the terrorist screening data 
            consolidated pursuant to HSPD-6;
       (f)   the procedures and frequency for screening people, cargo, 
            and conveyances;
       (g)   protocols to support consistent risk assessment and 
            inspection procedures;
       (h)   the skills and training required for the screeners at 
            screening opportunities;
       (i)   the hierarchy of consequences that should occur if a risk 
            indicator is generated as a result of a screening 
            opportunity;
       (j)   mechanisms for sharing information among screeners and all 
            relevant Government agencies, including results of screening 
            and new information acquired regarding suspected terrorists 
            between screening opportunities;

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       (k)   recommended research and development on technologies 
            designed to enhance screening effectiveness and further 
            protect privacy interests; and
       (l)   a plan for incorporating known traveler programs into the 
            screening procedures, where appropriate.
    (7) Not later than 90 days after the date of this directive, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the heads of the 
Federal departments and agencies listed in section 4 of this directive, 
shall also provide to me, through the Assistant to the President for 
Homeland Security and the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget, a prioritized investment and implementation plan for a 
systematic approach to terrorist-related screening that optimizes 
detection and interdiction of suspected terrorists and terrorist 
activities. The plan shall describe the scope, governance, principles, 
outcomes, milestones, training objectives, metrics, costs, and schedule 
of activities to implement the policy set forth in section 1 of this 
directive. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall further provide a 
report on the status of the implementation of the plan to me through the 
Assistant to the President for Homeland Security 6 months after the date 
of this directive and shall thereafter report to me on such progress or 
any recommended changes from time to time as appropriate.
    (8) In order to ensure comprehensive and coordinated terrorist-
related screening procedures, the implementation of this directive shall 
be consistent with Government-wide efforts to improve information 
sharing. Additionally, the reports and plan required under sections 4 
and 7 of this directive shall inform development of Government-wide 
information sharing improvements.
    (9) This directive does not alter existing authorities or 
responsibilities of department and agency heads including to carry out 
operational activities or provide or receive information. This directive 
is intended only to improve the internal management of the executive 
branch of the Federal Government, and it is not intended to, and does 
not, create any right or benefit enforceable at law or in equity by any 
party against the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, 
officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                                                          George W. Bush