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Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has provided more details about what he is seeking in legislation to permit him to reorganize his department.

According to a letter Chertoff wrote Wednesday to lawmakers involved in Homeland Security issues, his reorganization plan partly hinges on Congress authorizing the creation of a departmentwide policy officer, revising responsibilities for FEMA and eliminating the border and transportation security undersecretary office.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is reviewing the secretary's proposal and plans to draft legislation soon, a committee spokeswoman said Monday.

The department also included in its legislative proposal language to officially include the secretary in the line of succession, according to aides. The current line of succession would remain intact, and the Homeland Security secretary would be listed last behind the Veterans Affairs secretary.

The secretary released the results of his 90-day review Wednesday afternoon, announcing his intention to dissolve and consolidate several agencies and concentrate resources on combating catastrophic threats.

He contended in Wednesday's letter that the 2002 law creating the department gives him "broad reorganization authority and permits the secretary to alter or consolidate existing organizational units, to establish new organizational units or allocate or reallocate functions within the department."

Chertoff said he would implement most of the changes by Oct. 1. That plan could conflict with efforts of appropriators, who at the same time are working on the fiscal 2006 spending measure for the department. The House and Senate bills include specific funding levels for agencies and directorates that will no longer exist under Chertoff's reorganization.

While Chertoff's idea for a high-level policy post is likely to receive support on Capitol Hill, the other proposals could run into opposition. Chertoff wants Congress to eliminate the Border and Transportation Security Division, which runs the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.

Finance Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Max Baucus, D-Mont., reminded Chertoff Friday that their panel controls customs and immigration fees. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Barton also might oppose the secretary's plan to elevate his cyber czar to an assistant secretary and expand the post's portfolio to include protecting telecommunications. Barton won a battle last year to retain his panel's jurisdiction over cybersecurity issues and opposed the creation of the now-permanent Homeland Security panel.

Another proposal that lawmakers may not support is Chertoff's plan to have FEMA concentrate solely on responding to emergencies, removing programs that help state and local officials prepare for emergencies.

COMMENTS

• Who put this guy in charge? First he's the one who's supposed to be in charge, but he feels like he needs a "policy czar"? Then he thinks that FEMA should only react to emergencies instead of being pro-active to help keep from having them be worse? GovExec.com reader Posted July 19, 2005 10:37 AM
• In my view, FEMA would benefit by becoming an independent agency once again, and not be subsumed under the aegis of the Dept. of Homeland Security. FEMA's primary mission of response and recovery following natural disasters has been relegated to the "back burner" of priorities by DHS, to the detriment of states and local communities. DHS's mission and primary focus of counter-terrorism, border security, etc is the 800 pound gorilla that no one wants to challenge. There needs to be a much better balance between the legitimate security needs of this country, and the very real response, recovery, and disaster mitigation needs of states and local communities. FEMA's mission and ability to respond to natural disasters has been compromised since it became part of DHS. No where is this more evident than in the pre-disaster and post-disaster mitigation realm. The legacy of George W. Bush and the current administration in Washington is indeed a sad one. Thank you for letting me put in my "two cents" worth.... Ray Doherty Posted July 19, 2005 9:34 AM
• If everything is working well and there are no problems but your performance appraisal is in need of some new paragraphs then you must REORGANIZE the department, as a matter of fact really screw it up and then reorganize it again. Pretty soon it is so screwed up it will take 30 - 40 years to fix. Welcome to DHS. DOD is almost there for their screw up too. GovExec.com reader Posted July 19, 2005 7:14 AM