With the latest partial government shutdown having an impact on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) due to Democrats being in an uproar over ICE’scrackdown on illegal immigrants (particularly in Minnesota), many Americans will be affected.
How exactly will they be affected? For starters, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents will be forced to work with reduced or even withoutpay. In addition, there could be a series of delays or even cancellations at many airports.
Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could also be impacted should an unforeseen catastrophic disaster occur.
Then there’s the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which if not funded would have to halt programs such as e-Verify. So, what should be done? Considering DHS is similar to the Justice Department in many aspects, then it would be best to dismantle DHS and transfer an overwhelming majority of its agencies to the Justice Department. Such agencies would include the following: Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, USCIS, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Federal Training Law Enforcement Centers, and the United States Secret Service.
Next, there’s the United States Coast Guard. Considering the Coast Guard is partially a military organization, it would only make sense to transfer it to the Department of War (and under the Department of the Navy to be exact). Then, there is FEMA. Some say it should be abolished. However, there is analternative, and that is to transfer it to the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, FEMA should be deprived of its martial law capabilities. Finally, there is the TSA. It can be abolished and either be privatized or replaced with private security companies. Either way will save the taxpayers money. Other offices within DHS (e.g. Office of Legislative Affairs, Office of Public Affairs) can be abolished and their duties and responsibilities transferred to the Justice Department.
The Department of Homeland Security was created in the aftermath of 9/11 to fight terrorism. But as mentioned earlier, it is basically another Justice Department. When it comes to combating terrorism, America has its military, CIA, and Justice Department. So why create another executive department (i.e. DHS) and transfer agencies from other departments (e.g. USCIS)? Some of these agencies (e.g. U.S. Customs and Border Protection) that were under the Justice Department should have remained there.
If the Departments of Education and Energy can be abolished, then DHS can be dismantled.
Such measures would not only trim the federal budget and perhaps improve better coordination in the fight against terrorism.
Source: Clash Daily
