Prevent Terrorism and Enhance Security

Protecting the American people from terrorist threats is our founding principle and our highest priority. The Department of Homeland Security's counterterrorism responsibilities focus on three goals:

1. Prevent terrorist attacks;
2. Prevent the unauthorized acquisition, importation, movement, or use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials and capabilities within the United States; and
3. Reduce the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and key resources, essential leadership, and major events to terrorist attacks and other hazards.

On This Page:

• Global Aviation Security 
• Cargo Screening
• Enhance National Preparedness and Supporting State and Local Law Enforcement
• Strengthen International Partnerships
• Critical Infrastructure Protection

Learn More

• Counterterrorism Activities & Programs 
• Other Department Responsibilities

Global Aviation Security

• Following the attempted attack on December 25, 2009, the Department launched a global initiative to strengthen international aviation against evolving terrorist threats, working with international partners, the airline industry, and the traveling public.

• In 2010, Secretary Napolitano participated in five regional aviation security summits in five continents, forging a historic consensus with her international colleagues to strengthen civil aviation through enhanced information analysis and sharing, cooperation on technological development, and modernized aviation security standards. These meetings culminated in the adoption of a historic Declaration on Aviation Security by over 190 countries at the International Civil Aviation Organization Triennial Assembly.

• The Transportation Security Administration fully implemented the Secure Flight program, fulfilling a key 9/11 Commission recommendation to screen 100 percent of passengers on flights from, within, or bound for the United States against government terrorist watchlists.

• The Department implemented new enhanced security measures for all air carriers with international flights to the United States to strengthen the safety and security of all passengers. These new measures, which cover 100 percent of passengers traveling by air to the United States, utilize real-time, threat-based intelligence along with multiple layers of security, seen and unseen, to more effectively mitigate terrorist threats.

• The Transportation Security Administration accelerated the deployment of new technologies to airports around the country designed to detect evolving threats, including Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) units, Explosive Detection Systems, Explosives Trace Detection units, Advanced Technology X-Ray systems, and Bottled Liquid Scanners.

• Through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, the Department now receives biographical, travel and eligibility information of travelers prior to their departure to the U.S., expediting customs processing while protecting passenger privacy and strengthening global aviation security.

Back To Top

Cargo Screening

• The Department is utilizing a multi-layered approach to air cargo security, including enhanced screening requirements for known and established shippers, explosive detection canine teams, and covert tests and no-notice inspections of cargo operations. As required by the 9/11 Act, 100 percent of all cargo transported on passenger aircraft departing U.S. airports is now screened commensurate with screening of passenger checked baggage.

• International inbound air cargo is more secure than it has ever been, with 100 percent of identified high risk cargo being screened. 

• In coordination with the World Customs Organization, the Department launched Operation Global Shield, an unprecedented multilateral law enforcement effort to combat the illicit diversion and trafficking of precursor chemicals used in making improvised explosive devices.

• In 2011, Secretary Napolitano launched a Department of Homeland Security partnership with the World Customs Organization to enlist other nations, international bodies and the private sector in increasing the security of the global supply chain through a series of new initiatives to make the system stronger, smarter and more resilient. This includes adapting inbound cargo targeting rules to reflect the latest intelligence; prohibiting high risk cargo on passenger aircraft; implementing additional and enhanced screening for all cargo identified as high risk, and working with the private sector and international partners to enhance the sharing of advance cargo data and electronic shipping information.

Back To Top

Enhance National Preparedness and Support State and Local Law Enforcement

• The Department awarded $2.6 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to hire hundreds of first responders; rebuild fire stations, ports of entry, and bridges; and deploy thousands of critical aviation and border security technologies across the country, including:

  • Nearly $1 billion for inline baggage handling systems at 25 airports; closed circuit television at 14 airports and various aviation screening technologies for nationwide deployment;

  • $100 million in Emergency Food and Shelter grants;

  • More than $205 million in Fire Station Construction grants to over 100 recipients to build or modify existing fire stations;

  • $72 million in Transportation Security Grants to support capital projects;

  • $78 million in Transportation Security Grants to fund approximately 240 new law enforcement officers at 15 transit systems across the country;

  • $150 million in Port Security Grants to approximately 220 recipients to protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness and risk management capabilities, and support the implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential;

  • $420 million to modernize more than 30 land ports of entry;

  • $142 million for bridge alteration construction projects;

  • More than $80 million for tactical communications equipment and infrastructure;

  • More than $50 million for Southwest border security technology.

• With federal, state, local, and private sector partners, the Department expanded the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign to dozens of states, cities, transit systems, fusion centers, federal buildings, shopping malls, sports arenas, and retail outlets to boost public awareness and reporting of potential threats.

• The Office for Civil Right and Civil Liberties partnered with the DHS Privacy Office to design, develop and deliver a new specialized civil rights and civil liberties training program for the Privacy and Civil Liberties Officers at fusion centers.

• The Homeland Security Advisory Council’s Countering Violent Extremism Working Group, comprised of chiefs of police, sheriffs, community leaders and homeland security experts, issued a series of recommendations on ways to better support community-based efforts to counter violent extremism domestically – which the Department is currently working to implement.

Back To Top

Strengthen International Partnerships

• To date, the Department has signed international agreements to strengthen aviation security with Austria, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Haiti, Germany, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.

• The Department has signed agreements with 14 nations to exchange biometric and biographic data on terrorists and criminals to bolster counterterrorism and law enforcement efforts while emphasizing privacy protections.

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement expanded its visa security program to 19 posts in 15 countries to better secure the United States against terrorists and criminals seeking entry into our country.

• The Department established a new Electronic Crimes Task Force in London – the second such task force in Europe – to prevent, detect, and investigate various forms of electronic crimes, including potential terrorist attacks against critical infrastructure and financial payment systems.

• The Department signed a Science and Technology Agreement with the European Union to promote joint research initiatives and collaboration in the homeland security arena between the Department and all 27 E.U. Member States.

Back To Top

Critical Infrastructure Protection

• In 2010, the United States and Canada established a first of its kind plan for critical infrastructure resilience that will improve our ability to jointly share information and manage and assess risk to our countries in a more coordinated fashion.

• In 2010, the Department announced new comprehensive standards to address site, structural, interior and system security to enhance protection at thousands of government buildings across the United States.

• In 2010, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Infrastructure Protection conducted more than 1,900 security surveys and 2,500 vulnerability assessments on the nation’s most significant critical infrastructure to identify potential gaps and provide recommendations to mitigate vulnerabilities.

Back To Top