Twenty years ago, the United States was shaken to its core by the deadliest terrorist attack in our history. On September 11, 2001, families were irreparably broken, and our lives would never be the same.

That day, Americans became painfully aware of the grave threat posed by foreign terrorists who seek to attack our democracy and the freedom and hope that the United States represents. Law enforcement, first responders, military, and other brave and selfless individuals put their lives on the line to lead dangerous rescue, recovery, and defense efforts. We resolved to never again allow such an attack to occur on our soil.

Out of that tragic day, and as a result of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created. DHS was charged with protecting the United States by aligning different security agencies under one framework, bringing together 22 separate entities under a single Cabinet-level department that has since evolved into the largest law enforcement agency in the country.

Since 2001, we have learned many lessons, namely that DHS is fundamentally a department of partnerships and that everything we do must be informed by you—our state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement partners. Across the entire homeland security enterprise, we have strengthened our defenses and become more resilient by working with you.

Together, we have developed stronger communication tools and resources, created a multilayered information sharing strategy that extends across state lines, and helped build a national network of fusion centers to connect DHS with law enforcement agencies across the country to better receive, analyze, and share actionable information. We are committed to ensuring you have the resources you need to keep our communities safe and secure.

Improving Our Capacity to Combat Evolving Threats

Today, domestic violent extremism poses the most persistent, evolving, and lethal terrorism-related threat to the United States. These threats are often fueled by false narratives, conspiracy theories, and extremist rhetoric spread on social media and other online platforms that provide fertile ground for potential radicalization. Racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists are the most likely to conduct mass casualty attacks against civilians, while anti-government or anti-authority violent extremists, specifically militias, are the most likely to target law enforcement, government personnel, and government facilities. We saw this latter threat unfold during the January 6 insurrection, when domestic violent extremists attacked the U.S. Capitol.

The threat posed by domestic violent extremism continues to grow in communities at an alarming rate. Recognizing this trend in violence, the Biden-Harris administration and DHS have made combating domestic violent extremism a top priority. In June, U.S. President Joe Biden released the first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, which was informed by law enforcement and intelligence community threat assessments. Our law enforcement and intelligence community partners, including DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, will continue to play a major role in this effort. Further, DHS has initiated a comprehensive review led by our chief security officer to prevent, detect, and respond to potential threats related to domestic violent extremism within the department. Like your agencies, we will not tolerate acts of hate or violent extremism within our ranks.

Since January 2021, DHS also released two, first-of-their-kind National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletins to inform the public about the threats posed by domestic violent extremism. DHS will continue using the NTAS to communicate with the public and seek your input on how to continuously improve it. DHS will also continue leveraging the counterterrorism public service awareness campaign, “If You See Something, Say Something,” to encourage the reporting of suspicious activity to authorities. Further, DHS will continue providing operational support during major events.

In line with our commitment to increase the United States’ capacity to combat evolving threats, DHS designated, for the first time, domestic violent extremism as a “National Priority Area” within our Homeland Security Grant Program, which means that state, local, tribal, and territorial governments across the United States will spend at least $77 million to build the capacity to detect and protect against threats from domestic violent extremism. Further, in May, DHS launched the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3), to provide communities with the tools to prevent individuals from radicalizing to violence and intervene when the individuals already have done so.

Strengthening Cybersecurity at Every Level

In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in cyber attacks, namely ransomware, against public and private sector organizations of all sizes, including police departments, schools, and hospitals. Ransomware now poses a serious national security threat, including its ability to undermine law enforcement operations.

Addressing these risks is a shared responsibility that depends on close collaboration between the public and private sector.

Addressing these risks is a shared responsibility that depends on close collaboration between the public and private sector. That’s why, within my first month in office, I issued a call for action to tackle ransomware. DHS is working with our interagency partners, industry, stakeholder groups such as the Ransomware Task Force, and allies and partners abroad to combat this threat as part of a global whole-of-society effort.

Through DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), we will continue providing resources to increase organizations’ cyber resilience and defense. We increased cybersecurity grant funds from 5 to 7.5 percent through our State Homeland Security Program and the Urban Area Security Initiative, and we are committed to assisting you in preventing and recovering from costly and disruptive attacks, including through the cyber and forensic training and equipment that we offer at no cost through our National Cyber Forensics Institute.

Supporting State, Local, Tribal, Territorial, and Campus Law Enforcement

While DHS was created to enhance the United States’ ability to protect against, prevent, and respond to terrorist attacks, DHS works with law enforcement every day to combat a broad range of criminal activity and protect communities from gangs, drug traffickers, and other violent criminals.

Law enforcement organizations in many cities are under tremendous strain as they face a remarkable set of challenges driven by a dynamic threat environment, including increases in violent crime. DHS continues to provide personnel, technical assistance, and other resources to our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal activity such as human trafficking.

Further, I will ensure our state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement partners have a direct line of communication to DHS through our assistant secretary for state and local law enforcement who reports directly to me and leads the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement. To learn more about this office and DHS’s law enforcement resources, including information on the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN), Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers’ (FLETC) programs, the Blue Campaign, and DHS grant opportunities, visit www.DHS.gov/lep-resources. Of course, I look forward to continuing my personal engagement with all of you, and to keeping an open door in the service of our partnership.

Keeping Our Communities Safe and Secure Together

As we approach the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, we honor the memory of those who lost their lives, and we remain committed to working together across every level of government to keep the United States safe from evolving threats, both foreign and domestic.

We remain vigilant in our shared efforts to combat the threats of today and tomorrow alongside our state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement partners. Together, we will continue to protect, serve, and safeguard our people, our homeland, and our values. Thank you for everything you do in service to the United States.d

Please cite as

Alejandro N. Mayorkas, “DHS and the Power of Partnerships in a Post-9/11 World,” From the Secretary, Police Chief 88, no. 9 (September 2021): 10–11.