Analysis of Intelligence Agency Roles in Homeland Security (Report)

This report explores the multifaceted roles of intelligence agencies within the context of US homeland security. It begins by outlining the structure of the Intelligence Community (IC), highlighting the 16 agencies under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and their combined efforts with government and private institutions. The report emphasizes the significance of information sharing and collaboration among these agencies, particularly in light of the 9/11 attacks and subsequent legislation like the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is examined in detail, focusing on its Intelligence Branch (FBI/IB) and its role in integrating information from various sources to assess and mitigate domestic threats. The report underscores the evolution in security approaches, emphasizing a holistic, collaborative model to reduce threats and improve workflow across agencies, including the FBI. It concludes by acknowledging the critical changes in information sharing and evidence gathering since the 9/11 attacks, and the ongoing focus on a comprehensive approach to security involving the FBI and other agencies.

Running head: ROLES OF INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES IN HOMELAND SECURITY
Roles of Intelligence Agencies in Homeland Security
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ROLES OF INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES IN HOMELAND SECURITY
Intelligence Agencies and their Functions in Homeland Security
There are 16 intelligence agencies that have been given different roles towards realizing
the United States policies and goals of national and international security. The 16 intelligence
agencies make up the Intelligence Community (IC) headed by the Office of the Director of
National Intelligence. The Intelligence agencies are further divided into close to 1,300
government organizations and about 2,000 private institutions working to realize the tasks under
Intelligence and Counterterrorism and Homeland Security (Ortmeier, 2017).
According to the report issued during the 116th Congress by Michael Devine, Homeland
Security and the Intelligence Community have a complex function for the national security of the
U.S citizens and international borders (Brady, 2015). Michael Devine was referring to the 9/11
terror attack and the failure of communication between intelligence and law enforcement to
combat similar attacks (Cordero, 2019). Agencies demonstrated distrust hence creating barriers
that protected civil liberties that became too rigid to surpass. Sharing of information has been
further enhanced through the identification of barriers to national security and the creation of
new policies and regulations through legislation.
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 was tasked with integrating law enforcement, border
security, disaster management immigration, customs, cybersecurity, and intelligence in relation
countering terrorism. DHS has been working with a budget of $40.6 billion with more than
250,000 employees. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004
came up with a Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) to coordinate and manage federal terrorism
(Brockington, 2012). DHS has 17 elements and 16 intelligence agencies working to ensure
national security.

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ROLES OF INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES IN HOMELAND SECURITY
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Intelligence Branch (FBI/IB) is tasked with
combining information collected by elemental organizations under the Department of Homeland
Security. This information includes seaport, border point, law enforcement at federal, local, and s
as well as intelligence from foreign countries. There are four component organizations tasked
with homeland security to work under the FBI/IB. They are the Directorate of Intelligence that
oversees all the Intelligence functions under the FBI both in the field and at the headquarters
(Brady, 2015). On the other hand, the development and maintenance of intelligence sharing are
served under the Office of Partner Engagement.
The FBI/IB also conducts outreach to high-risk business sectors such as infrastructure,
financial institutions, and Procurement or supply chain management. The FBI ensures the
assessment of domestic threats under the Bureau Intelligence Council (Elliff, 2015). All the
information collected from the local, state, tribal, territorial and international partners is shared
and coordinated among the departments.
The security sector has witnessed critical changes in their approach to sharing
information and gathering evidence since the 9/11 terror attack. Homeland Security continues to
focus not only on state-related security threats but also local, tribal, territorial and international
sectors. The focus on a holistic approach to ensuring security has reduced the threats and
enhanced workflow. Agencies under homeland security such as the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and Intelligence Branch continue to work with other 16 organizational agencies to
facilitate security.

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ROLES OF INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES IN HOMELAND SECURITY
References
Brady, K. R. (2015). Better Integrating American Intelligence Agencies and Products: Revising a
Recurring Solution for a Recurring Problem.
Brockington, D. L. (2012). Preventing intelligence failures in an unpredictable 21st century.
ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA CENTER FOR STRATEGIC
LEADERSHIP.
Cordero, C. (2019). Intelligence Oversight Priorities for the 116th Congress. Intelligence.
Elliff, J. T. (2015). The reform of FBI intelligence operations(Vol. 1228). Princeton University
Press.
Ortmeier, P. J. (2017). Introduction to security. Pearson.