Chertoff seeks authority to hire policy czar, alter FEMA
DHS secretary plans to implement most of the changes by Oct. 1
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has provided more details about what he is seeking in legislation to permit him to reorganize his department.
According to a letter Chertoff wrote Wednesday to lawmakers involved in Homeland Security issues, his reorganization plan partly hinges on Congress authorizing the creation of a departmentwide policy officer, revising responsibilities for FEMA and eliminating the border and transportation security undersecretary office.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is reviewing the secretary's proposal and plans to draft legislation soon, a committee spokeswoman said Monday.
The department also included in its legislative proposal language to officially include the secretary in the line of succession, according to aides. The current line of succession would remain intact, and the Homeland Security secretary would be listed last behind the Veterans Affairs secretary.
The secretary released the results of his 90-day review Wednesday afternoon, announcing his intention to dissolve and consolidate several agencies and concentrate resources on combating catastrophic threats.
He contended in Wednesday's letter that the 2002 law creating the department gives him "broad reorganization authority and permits the secretary to alter or consolidate existing organizational units, to establish new organizational units or allocate or reallocate functions within the department."
Chertoff said he would implement most of the changes by Oct. 1. That plan could conflict with efforts of appropriators, who at the same time are working on the fiscal 2006 spending measure for the department. The House and Senate bills include specific funding levels for agencies and directorates that will no longer exist under Chertoff's reorganization.
While Chertoff's idea for a high-level policy post is likely to receive support on Capitol Hill, the other proposals could run into opposition. Chertoff wants Congress to eliminate the Border and Transportation Security Division, which runs the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.
Finance Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Max Baucus, D-Mont., reminded Chertoff Friday that their panel controls customs and immigration fees. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Barton also might oppose the secretary's plan to elevate his cyber czar to an assistant secretary and expand the post's portfolio to include protecting telecommunications. Barton won a battle last year to retain his panel's jurisdiction over cybersecurity issues and opposed the creation of the now-permanent Homeland Security panel.
Another proposal that lawmakers may not support is Chertoff's plan to have FEMA concentrate solely on responding to emergencies, removing programs that help state and local officials prepare for emergencies.