George W. Bush

About the author: President George W. Bush took office on January 20, 2001.

The new Department of Homeland Security, which consolidates dozens of federal agencies within one Cabinet-level organization, will ensure that America's homeland security efforts are comprehensive and coordinated. The new department will analyze intelligence collected by the FBI, CIA, and the National Security Agency; it will coordinate the nation's efforts to combat cyberterrorism and weapons of mass destruction; it will coordinate with state and local governments on homeland security issues; and the new department will eliminate much of the redundancy and overlapping responsibilities that have traditionally characterized U.S. counter-terrorism efforts.

Editor's note: President Bush issued the following remarks on November 25, 2002, at the signing of the Homeland Security Act.

Today, we are taking historic action...