President Submits Homeland Security Reorganization Plan

November 27, 2002 -- In compliance with provisions of the recently enacted Homeland Security Act, President Bush has submitted a reorganization plan addressing (1) The transfer of agencies, personnel, assets, and obligations to the Department, and (2) Any consolidation, reorganization, or streamlining of agencies transferred to the Department.

The plan is subject to modification pursuant to Section 1502(d) of the Act, which provides that on the basis of consultations with appropriate congressional committees the President may modify or revise any part of the plan until that part of the plan becomes effective. According to the plan, "Additional details concerning the process for establishing the Department will become available in the coming weeks and months, and the President will work closely with Congress to modify this plan consistent with the Act."

By January 24, 2003, the effective date of the Act, the Office of the Secretary will be established and the process begun of appointing officers. Various offices will also be established including an Office for State and Local Government Coordination within the Office of the Secretary.

Agency transfers will be effective March 1, 2003, including the Office of Domestic Preparedness (ODP), the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA), the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) program, the Office of Emergency Preparedness OEP), the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), and the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile (NPS) program, among others.

The report provides further information as to the assigned responsibilities for officers and components of the new department. The full report is available from the White House Website (see November 25th).