Homeland Security Twenty Years After 9/11: Addressing Evolving Threats

Security risks are not static, so security policy must evolve. Bureaucratic inertia, preparing for past wars without looking to the future, and narrowly focusing on traditional risks makes the country less safe. National security and homeland security policymakers must shore up current vulnerabilities and anticipate emerging risks. In the counterterrorism context, that means reforming gun laws that have contributed to repeat mass shootings, examining domestic extremist ideology that may lead people to commit bad acts, and countering public health misinformation that negatively impacts national security — all while respecting civil liberties. This article examines the successes, failures, and policies at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and proposes reforms to ensure the Department is prepared for dynamic future threats to the United States.