Homeland Security: Navy Operations -- Background and Issues for Congress

Abstract

Navy and Coast Guard officials agree that the Coast Guard should be the lead federal agency for maritime homeland security operations because it is better suited in terms of equipment, training, and linkages to civilian federal law enforcement agencies, and because of its dual status as both an armed service and a law enforcement agency. Navy and Coast Guard officials agree that the Navy's role should be to support the Coast Guard, particularly in areas like air defense, where the Coast Guard has little or no capability. Navy officials believe that the Navy, while contributing to maritime homeland security operations, should remain primarily focused on deploying naval forces overseas to provide a forward defense against threats to the United States. Potential Navy homeland security roles include defending the United States against ballistic or cruise missile attack, defending U.S. naval bases and naval computer networks against attack, searching for terrorists at sea, and assisting civil authorities in responding to terrorist attacks. The Navy's role in homeland security raises several potential issues for Congress. This report will be updated as events warrant.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 05, 2004
Accession Number
ADA520409

Entities

People

  • Ronald O'Rourke

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Boats
  • Coast Guard
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Homeland Defense
  • Homeland Security
  • Law Enforcement
  • Law Enforcement Officers
  • Maritime Domain Awareness
  • Maritime Security
  • National Security
  • Navy
  • Port Security
  • Security
  • United States

Readers

  • Cybersecurity.
  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.