Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

United States Department of Homeland Security

Government

Federal department coordinating domestic security, disaster response, border protection, cybersecurity, and emerging UAP data efforts

  Creation through the Homeland Security Act

Congress enacted the Homeland Security Act of 2002 in the wake of the 11 September 2001 attacks, amalgamating 22 disparate agencies into a single Cabinet department operational on 1 March 2003. The reorganization placed the Coast Guard, Secret Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Customs and Border Protection under one civilian Secretary charged with anticipating, preventing, and mitigating threats to the United States.1

  Intelligence Integration and Science Mission

The department houses the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), the only civilian intelligence element empowered to collect within U.S. borders. I&A collaborates with 80 state and local fusion centers and aggregates anomalous aviation and maritime reports. The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) manages research on counter-UAS sensors, artificial intelligence for threat detection, and novel materials derived from recovered aerospace debris when available.23

  Engagement with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena

In July 2023 DHS S&T circulated a concept paper code-named KONA BLUE proposing a multiagency data-fusion cell to analyze UAP flight characteristics, leveraging Customs and Border Protection aerostat feeds and Coast Guard electro-optical archives. Although not yet funded, KONA BLUE signaled the department's willingness to contribute unique sensor data and border-region surveillance to the interagency UAP effort led by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.4

  Cyber and Continuity Roles

DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) safeguards satellite ground networks and space launch ranges against intrusion, functions critical to any investigation of anomalous aerospace objects. The department also coordinates Continuity of Government plans that direct transportation, health, and communications assets during extraordinary events involving unknown aerial or submersible craft.

  Current Leadership and Transparency Initiatives

Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has testified before Congress on the importance of transparent public communication during emerging threats. In 2024 DHS published a redacted directive instructing component agencies to forward anomalous sensor tracks within 24 hours to AARO, underscoring a new culture of rapid data sharing.

  References

  1. United States Statutes at Large 116-213, Homeland Security Act of 2002. ↩

  2. DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis, UAP Reporting Procedures, unclassified summary, 2023-10-02. ↩

  3. DHS Science and Technology Directorate, Material Characterization of Unknown Aerospace Alloys, project brief, 2022-06-14. ↩

  4. DHS S&T Concept Paper KONA BLUE, obtained by FOIA release 2024-01-11. ↩

Published on March 1, 2003

2 min read