Five Responsibilities - One Unified Mission
Welcome to The Blog @ Homeland Security, a new way for us to offer an inside-out view of what we’re doing every day to secure our nation. Our efforts, from border security to cybersecurity, counterterrorism programs to preparedness and response efforts for natural disasters, airport security to naturalizing thousands of new citizens each year, affect every American. Secretary Janet Napolitano works every day to strengthen these and many other initiatives, unifying the department behind a common mission and set of principles.
The Secretary outlined our overarching responsibilities and priorities in a recorded message to department employees last week in the video below, and we wanted to kick things off by sharing it with you. We’ll be posting more about how these priorities impact our daily operations in the coming days, but this blog’s primary mission focuses on one simple goal: transparency.
We’ll of course keep you up-to-date on the Secretary’s activities and the department’s public events. We’ll feature the efforts of our front line workforce and bring first glimpses of the technology we’re developing and deploying to support our efforts.
We also want to hear from you. Our comment policy allows for a direct and open dialogue on each post. We’ll look for your feedback and suggestions along the way, incorporating them into this growing effort.
We’ll continue to update The Leadership Journal, the policy-based companion to The Blog that features the department’s leadership and issues that drive and influence our mission. Check out the Secretary’s latest Leadership Journal.
Look for frequent updates to both, and let us know how we’re doing.
Secretary Napolitano On the Department's Five Responsibilities
The Secretary outlined our overarching responsibilities and priorities in a recorded message to department employees last week in the video below, and we wanted to kick things off by sharing it with you. We’ll be posting more about how these priorities impact our daily operations in the coming days, but this blog’s primary mission focuses on one simple goal: transparency.
We’ll of course keep you up-to-date on the Secretary’s activities and the department’s public events. We’ll feature the efforts of our front line workforce and bring first glimpses of the technology we’re developing and deploying to support our efforts.
We also want to hear from you. Our comment policy allows for a direct and open dialogue on each post. We’ll look for your feedback and suggestions along the way, incorporating them into this growing effort.
We’ll continue to update The Leadership Journal, the policy-based companion to The Blog that features the department’s leadership and issues that drive and influence our mission. Check out the Secretary’s latest Leadership Journal.
Look for frequent updates to both, and let us know how we’re doing.
Secretary Napolitano On the Department's Five Responsibilities
Download Secretary's Message in WMV (WMV, 27 MB)
Labels: comment policy, five responsibilities, leadership journal
posted by DHS @ 11:25 PM
14 Comments:
At June 15, 2009 5:17 PM ,
Anonymous said...
I am an Iraq war veteran. Why does DHS feel that I am a risk to the country I fought to defend? In your intel summary to law enforcement you state that right-wing organizations will increase efforts to recruit me; however, it implies that I will join and thus constitute a threat. Consider the logic. If I (and my fellow veterans) were not interested in joining these organizations then no threat would result from the recruiting efforts. The threat only exists if I willingly join. Since you advise that the threat exists you thereby imply I am willing to join and become a threat to my own country. Why would you do such a thing? Your intro said you wanted a dialog with the American public. Well, here I am!
At June 15, 2009 5:58 PM ,
Trollkiller said...
Cool another blog, I have bookmarked it.
I see the goal of this blog is transparency so I will assume that the transparency extends to the whole of DHS. If this is the case can anyone tell me why the TSA is over a year behind simple FOIA requests?
At June 15, 2009 6:10 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Oh Great. ANOTHER "Blog" that the anti government, anti DHS and anti TSA people can get on and rant and rave about how bad we are. Instead of wasting money on these "blogs" to be more "transparent" how about funneling some of that money to the people that do the work in the form of PAY RAISES. Or put it towards more effective equipment and training. Or HIRE MORE PEOPLE. When are you going to realize that you are doing nothing more than opening up a can of worms to allow all the "negative nellies" get on here and denigrate federal employees. Take a look at the TSA blog if you don't believe me. What a crock and what a waste of money.
At June 15, 2009 8:27 PM ,
americanwoman said...
Just checking in...no time, not enough time to express all I have to say! As my infamous governor would put it: "I'll be back..."
At June 15, 2009 9:51 PM ,
Ryan Erickson said...
Welcome to the governmental blogging world... I for one will be watching as I'm interesting in where this venture is going to go and how it will interact with the public.
~Ryan @ CGBlog.org
At June 15, 2009 11:16 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Actions speak louder than words. My question is DHS doing everything to protect our borders from the flow of illegal aliens. I ask myself how can a SUV of 27 illegals get through our border gates without being noticed.
At June 15, 2009 11:27 PM ,
Sean Cotton said...
Great Idea! Good information for the American people. I am looking forward to reading blog postings.
At June 15, 2009 11:42 PM ,
JYS said...
What an excellent initiative! The Secretary's efforts to increase transparency and enhance communications with Americans through the use of new media outlets are great additions to her overarching goals of unifying and maturing the Department, while at the same time preserving our civil rights and civil liberties. What a truly exciting time and privilege to be a part of this Department!
At June 16, 2009 12:49 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Why are lawful permanent residents now required to wait in the foreign visitors line at U.S. airports when returning home to the United States?
At June 16, 2009 6:41 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Can´t you change your name? "Homeland" really does not sit well.
At June 16, 2009 8:19 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Thank you for working hard to keep us safe. It is a scary world.
At June 16, 2009 1:30 PM ,
MF8 said...
Since when is the word "Terrorist" the same as Patriot?
Why am I suddenly a terrorist for having an opposing opinion to a sitting president?
Where was this when bush was in office?
I am not a terrorist or some sort of nut, I'm just an American who is worried about the direction our great nation is going.
At June 16, 2009 9:18 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Will comments be as heavily censored as they are at the TSA blog?
At June 17, 2009 3:18 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Please encourage all DHS employees and contractors to realize that American citizens will do their part to support the DHS mission. However, this support can only continue if DHS and the security contractors supporting the intelligence and homeland defense respectfully interact with the public.
It is of concern when DHS-connected personnel and contractors use deception, or attempt to blame the public for security issues. DHS has an important job: To defend America; but this cannot be on the back of shifting the burden from the intelligence community and homeland defense from the select few who fail to meet the tough standards; and fall on the backs of those who raise concerns about lapses in security, malfeasance, or inadequate protections to safeguard sensitive information.
The public is here to work with you. However, the public must have assurances that problems within the IC-HD community are handled professionally. Please take responsibility to safeguard the information you are entrusted. However, please do not blame the public for calling attention to the security lapses; nor for discussing information you have provided voluntarily. It is a betrayal of public trust when you agree to cooperate with citizens who are interested in the HD-IC community, but then you use a heavy hand to shift attention from your security lapses onto those who trusted you to respect your agreement and invitation to participate.
When you demonstrate that you are willing to conduct investigations and discipline employees for making false claims about the public, you will get more support. However, once you betray the American public's trust, we are less inclined to spread favorable opinions about whether the DHS-IC-HD community is serious in respectfully treating American citizens, visitors, or employees. You do your job, and that will inspire greater American support for you and your fine work.
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