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The article discusses the issues being faced by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in 2009. It is stated that the TSA is in a congressional arguments on whether its transportation security officers should be given collective bargaining rights. It is stated that the increase in security funding will enable TSA to add detection machines. The author shares that the TSA is facing image issues with the public, with stories about confusing procedures and intrusive searches.

The article looks at the challenges facing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its mission to protect the nation's food supply from native and foreign diseases and pathogens. It observes that the global economic crisis is forcing the U.S. government to tighten its budget, thus certain federal agencies like the USDA may have to operate on limited funding in 2009. However, it states that the USDA has made progress in its research on plant and animal safety and strengthened its efforts toward vulnerability assessments and response planning. INSETS: Researching deadly animal diseases;Researching deadly plant diseases.

The article presents the civil servants guiding the transition of the administration and the future of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Political appointments are pointed out vis-a-vis the quality of key appointments. Reference is made to its first presidential transition since its creation in 2003 and its mission-critical function of providing national security. The career people ready to step into the vacancy include John Torres, Alan Cohn, Jim Howe, Gail Rossides and Nancy Ward, who are presented with their credentials.

This article provides information on the life and death of U.S. border patrol agent Luis Aguilar. Aguilar died after being runned down intentionally by a Hummer H2 which crossed the border from Mexico at the dunes. TJ Bonner, head of the National Border Patrol Council, said the death of Aguilar reverberated well beyond the Yuma Sector. Jesus Navarro Montes, who confessed to the murder of Aguilar, was allowed to walk free by Mexican authorities before the U.S. could extradite and charge him for his crimes.

The article reports on the internship program of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the U.S. called the National Security Internship. The goal of the internship is to recruit college students, particularly Arab-Americans, who have knowledge about the Arabic language. One of their recruits is Rammy Barbari of Virginia Military Institute (VMI).

The article focuses on the need for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to empower the Federal Protective Service (FPS) in line with its task to secure federal buildings. There were criticisms regarding the cost saving measures of the agency since 2004. New York City and Washington DC are the most vulnerable as they are the busiest and most federal properties are concentrated in those cities.

The article deals with labor relations within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It emphasizes that the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), which has about 20,000 employees under the DHS, has met the new DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and is taking advantage of the pro-labor approach of the administration. According to critics, the interference of labor in wage and in other management decisions hinders the authority required to remove employees from the line.

The article discusses issues with the secure identity program (REAL ID) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary Janet Napolitano opposed the program and said that she was open to Enhance Driver's Licenses (EDL). It is stated that the National Governors Association (NGA) has estimated that REAL ID would cost U.S. states $11 billion over 5 years. Wisconsin representative James Sensenbrenner shares the effects of REAL ID such as protection for the individual.

The article tackles the need for the U.S. Congress to consolidate in terms of their direct oversight responsibilities with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS spokeswoman Laura Keehner cites the frustration of officials over the confusion, conflicting information and demands, and mixed messages regarding legislative priorities that were brought by the oversight problem. Also as a result of the reorganization at the DoD, oversight committees were streamlined. For 2009, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review will be finalized by the DHS.

The article examines the question of whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should remain part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or become a separate agency. Proponents of the separation between FEMA and DHS believe that FEMA's being under the DHS often creates confusion about which tasks and operations fall under the authority of the two agencies. Meanwhile, other officials argue that instead of solving these issues, separation would distance FEMA from many of the important inter-agency collaborations within the DHS.

The article focuses on the effort of the National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to improve the security of the nation. According to NBIC Director Eric Myers, the mission of the NBIC is to identify, characterize, localize and track a biological event of national concern, integrate and analyze health data, and disseminate alerts and information. But NBIC has to meet three goals to actualize this vision. Two of the challenges facing NBIC involves information exchange and information technology.

The article provides information on the perceived controversies surrounding the selection of the replacement site for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The selection process for the animal disease research facility is rigorous and commanded the attention of the scientific community. The process of picking a site had been tainted by several political issues.

This article provides information on the new National Applications Office (NAO), a new federal department the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to launch for an expanded, domestic use of classified reconnaissance satellites, as of September 2008. Through NAO, the DHS would be able to map smuggling routes and detect large weapons cache among others. A coalition of 33 civil liberties activits, said satellite imagery and other vast capacities are powerful weapons that have been used against the citizens of the U.S.

The article focuses on the first presidential transition facing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since it opened its doors in 2003. Senator Daniel Akaka says he is pleased to see that the DHS is taking planning for the presidential transition so seriously. Accordingly, the key to having smooth transition is having leadership with institutional knowledge remain in each of the agency's 24 components while other appointees undergo the confirmation and approval processes.

The article focuses on the difficulties being encountered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a fairly new department. Reference is made to DHS employees' responses to the 2007 Annual Employee Survey indicating very stubborn difficulties particularly in performance culture. Positive feedback is mentioned in areas like personal work experience and recruitment, development and retention. Other information on the report are presented along with the special stresses brought about by the unique employee infrastructure.

The article reports on the plan of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to erect its new headquarters on the grounds of the old Saint Elizabeth's mental hospital in Washington, D.C. The DHS considers the relocation as a way to house its disparately located employees while others perceive it as a way which seals off the aesthetic and historic value of the asylum. It adds that challenges to the plan include funding and consensus. DHS spokesman Larry Orluskie stresses that they intend to preserve the site as an historic landmark.

The article reports on the expectation by the U.S. lawmakers and planners for the nation's first biosafety-Level 4 Animal Research Laboratory project to commence following recommendation from the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security. The department recommended the Manhattan campus of the Kansas State University in New York as the site for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. About 1,500 workers are expected to work on the construction and 500 are estimated to be employed at the laboratory.