Posted by Secretary Napolitano
Today, I am releasing a new report outlining the Department of Homeland Security’s progress implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. This year – seven years after the release of the 9/11 Commission’s report, and in recognition of the 10th anniversary of September 11th – our report details the advancements by DHS and its partners in strengthening the homeland security enterprise to better defend against evolving threats.
Now, ten years after the worst terrorist attacks ever on American soil, America is stronger and more resilient than ever before. But threats from terrorism persist. And challenges remain.
Over the past decade, we have made great strides to secure our nation against a large attack or disaster, to protect our critical infrastructure and cyber networks, and to engage a broader range of Americans in the shared responsibility for security. Together with our many partners across the Federal government, the public and private sectors, and in communities across the country, and around the world, DHS has worked to build and strengthen a homeland security enterprise that mitigates and defends against dynamic threats, minimizes risks, and maximizes our ability to respond to – and recover from – attacks and disasters of all kinds.
We have made significant progress in:
- Expanding Information Sharing
- Strengthening Airline Passenger Pre-screening
- Targeting Terrorist Travel
- Enhancing Screening for Explosives
- Protecting Cyber Networks and Critical Physical Infrastructure
- Bolstering the Security of U.S. Borders and Identification Documents
- Ensuring Robust Privacy, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Safeguards
Together, these efforts have provided a strong foundation to protect communities from terrorism and other threats, while safeguarding the fundamental rights of all Americans.
We recognize and thank the many men and women of DHS, all of our partners, and the law enforcement officers and emergency management professionals who work on the frontlines everyday protecting America, at home and abroad. Read the Department’s full 2011 progress report.