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United States Response to CBW Terrorism
and Domestic Preparedness

The organizational structure chart below is an overview of federal agencies, programs, and offices that play a role in anti-terrorism, counterterrorism, and domestic response. Some areas of the chart and accompanying explanatory text are currently under revision to achieve greater accuracy or organizational detail. Since the enactment of the Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996 (Nunn-Lugar-Domenici amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY97), numerous offices have been created and reorganized to respond to the terrorism threat. Congress is currently considering passage of H.R. 4210, an amendment that would create an Office of Terrorism Preparedness. Located in the Executive Office of the President, this new office would coordinate and oversee policies related to domestic readiness.

"The President will establish the Office of Homeland Security that will be headed by the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security -- Governor Tom Ridge. The mission of the Office will be to develop and coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to secure the United States from terrorist threats or attacks. The Office will coordinate the executive branch's efforts to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States."

- "President Establishes Office of Homeland Security," The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, October 8, 2001, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/10/print/20011008.html

"Remarks by the President and Governor Tom Ridge at Swearing-In Ceremony of Governor Ridge as Director of the Office of Homeland Security," The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, October 8, 2001, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/10/print/20011008-3.html

A one-page printable version of this chart is available. (PDF format, 1 page, 191k)

Last updated: 10/2001

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