I did not know this and I'll bet you don't either -- WE NEED TO KNOW THIS ABOUT DHS

[AverageOldGuy]

The Department of Homeland Security was formed in 2003

Go to the Wikipedia article on DHS.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Homeland_Security

It began operations on March 1, 2003, after being formed as a result of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, enacted in response to the September 11 attacks. With more than 240,000 employees, DHS is the third-largest Cabinet department, after the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

On the Wikipedia article, look carefully at how DHS was formed -- almost all federal "law enforcement" agencies and operations were consolidated under DHS. Look at the chart that shows all the organizations that were pulled out of their parent agencies and consolidated under DHS!!!! The damn thing is unmanageable.

Why is the Coast Guard under DHS? Yes, I understand their role in maritime security and vessel inspection but they have nothing in common with The National Communications Center.

Why is Secret Service under DHS?

The damn thing needs to be abolished and all the organizations returned to their previous home agencies.

[UpInArms]

1. The USA patriot act

Is and was evil

[twodogsbarking]

8. I remember when they started it saying it was privacy in the terlet.

[debsy]

12. Yup

Those of us who are old enough to remember the early years post-911 recall the Patriot act and formation of DHS very well. We foresaw all the possibilities back then but were told we were paranoid. “Don’t worry about it. It won’t be abused. Too many checks and balances. You are paranoid.” They said that despite our loud protests and objections, very much like when we’re warned about Donald Trump becoming President. Now, here we are…

[UpInArms]

17. This 👆🏼

Any of us could chart this course … it’s a shame that so many choose to be blind

[IbogaProject]

27. I was offended by the Nazi type name itself

Homeland alone didn't sound good.

[Amaryllis]

34. Yep. More of that isolationist stuff.

[Amaryllis]

33. I remember it well. Many warnings from those with the foresight to see the implications.

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. It was written BEFORE 9/11

They were just waiting for a reason to implement it. It was part of the PNAC agenda, as was the invasion of Iraq.

[debsy]

18. True

They get points for being prepared but lose more points for preparing shit instead of something palatable to us all!

[UpInArms]

19. They wrote it and made certain to implement it

Beware the Iran ‘Pearl Harbor’ Moment

In 2000, the Project for a New American Century (PNAC) issued a report that proposed establishing a new U.S.-led security perimeter across the globe to protect Western interests and perform the “constabulary” duties associated with “shaping the security environment in critical regions.”

The report, “Rebuilding America’s Defenses,” which suggested billions more in the Pentagon budget annually for reimagining military capabilities across the forces, including nuclear and space, was based in part on the Defense Policy Guidance, crafted by Paul Wolfowitz and Dick Cheney during the George H. W. Bush Administration “for maintaining U.S. preeminence, precluding the rise of a great power rival, and shaping the international security order in line with American principles and interests.”

The report noted that “the process of transformation” that PNAC envisioned, “even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event—like a new Pearl Harbor.”

PNAC, which was founded by Bill Kristol and Robert Kagan and had been actively lobbying to remove Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein from power, got its “Pearl Harbor” a year later. Within two years of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. invaded Iraq, saw Hussein executed, and was well on its way to fulfilling at least one top line goal from “Rebuilding America’s Defenses”: to “fight and decisively win multiple, simultaneous major theater wars.”

[popsdenver]

36. I was gonna say.........

Probably originated by the so called Republican "PNAC" Project New American Century (1997?) in their "manifesto" dictating what they intended to accomplish after the year 2000. They pointed out in that document, "that if something were to occur, like Pearl Harbor, it would greatly accelerate their ability to implement their agenda".........There were a lot of fishy things going on, that indicated precisely what the 9/11 attackers were going to do. (and DID).....ALL IGNORED by the Cheney/Rumsfeld CABAL.....along with Louis Freh? their head of the FBI.....

From 2020 to 2024, the "2025" group, came up with their own, greatly expanded version of PNAC.........

And, here we are today, with A pawn for a President, along with a Republican U.S. Senate, a Republican U.S. House and a Republican Supreme Court as well as many State Republican Governors, to shove their agenda through, at Warp Speed........

Perfect Title for a book about the past 46+ years would be: WHILE THE NATION SLEPT......

I would hope that SATAN is developing a whole new, lower level of Hell, capable of being occupied by the ENTIRE Republican CABAL, for the past 46+ years........ that has brought us to this point. AND countless US Corporate CEO's.....(we mustn't forget that it is the U.S. Corporations that directed and financed the entire Republican mission)

[Random Boomer]

45. The OPs surprise at these origins makes me feel old

Oh wait, I am old.

I loathed the "homeland" usage the minute I first heard it back then. It reeked of fascist nationalism. And here we are.

[Srkdqltr]

2. It was said at the time that homeland security was not a good thing. People were horrified by 9-11 so it came about.

In other words, it seemed like a good idea at the time by a lot of people.

[popsdenver]

37. All by design SRK

Read my # 36

[Srkdqltr]

40. Of course. We also went to war with the wrong country. Twice. Not too bright.

But by design. Sadly news wasn't what it is today. Most of talk radio was Republican.

[popsdenver]

43. Great for

the Military Industrial Complex!!!!!!! With IRAQ topping VietNam......at last accounting, IRAQ WAR spending, to date, TOPS 2 BILLION...AND COUNTING........

AND, with the Dept of Defense, being changed to Dept. of Wars.......the MIC will certainly get a bigger % of Fed Budget/spending...

Rush is hopefully burning in hell..............and hopefully to be joined with a couple of thousand more.....

[pat_k]

3. The title "Homeland" was an intentional embrace of ethnic nationalism and white supremacy.

Last edited Thu Jan 29, 2026, 06:04 PM - Edit history (1)

All bullshit rationalizations to the contrary, the word "homeland" framed the United States not as a nation founded on universal ideals, but as a "white homeland."

When we either break up or remake that agency into one that strives to promote the safety and well-being of a diverse populous while protecting the civil rights of everyone living within our borders, we've got to drop that vile name.

[yellow dahlia]

29. Truth!

[Clouds Passing]

4. Didn't Hitler call his country his Homeland? Weren't the bushes nazis?

http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/800

They are on their revenge tour.

[debsy]

20. Prescott Bush was in with the nazis

Milton Friedman “free market, de-regulation” capitalists like fascists and fascism a lot.

https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/how-bushs-grandfather-helped-hitlers-rise-to-power]

[Clouds Passing]

28. And obviously his legacies have followed in his footsteps.

[progressoid]

5. Homeland Security. Passed by the Senate 90 to 9

And the House 295 to 132.

A lot of us were dismissed as anti-American kooks because we opposed it.

[lastlib]

6. I called it the "KGWB"* when it was proposed and set up.

(* a mashup of "GWB" its daddy, and "KGB," the Soviet secret police.) I was under no illusions that it would become an authoritarian monstrosity, and its first secretary Tom Ridge, just looked like a Soviet commissar, sans battle ribbons.
I kinda think the moniker still fits, even though Dubya is long out to pasture.

[2na fisherman]

7. Fatherland

How about The Department of Fatherland Security?

[Iggo]

9. 9/11 Insanity.

Even back then, we said, “Homeland Security? That sounds like some nazi bullshit.” And lookee lookee at what it turned out to be. Some nazi bullshit. We’ve always been right about the creeping fascism. Always.

[Wounded Bear]

10. Germany was the Fatherland, Russia was the Motherland, so those were taken...

We got Homeland.

Oh, and Secret Service used to be under Treasury IIRC. They still handle counterfeiting cases.

[themaguffin]

11. Um yeah, I remember this well. It was a big deal at the time.

[Captain Zero]

44. When Nixon's white house guards wore helmets

That had the old German spike straight out the top.....
That's when Republicans started worrying me.

[aggiesal]

13. I remember when it was created. I thought at the time and still do, that it sounded like a Russian department name. n/t

[live love laugh]

14. Bush fucked that up. I remember when they created it I thought it

was pointless and I was right.

[CoopersDad]

15. Check into PNAC, the Project for a New American Century

DHS was created to solve a problem that didn't really exist.

I think the powers that be knew what they wanted to create and they are finding great success here lately.

[Hope22]

21. The first year that the Coast Guard was moved to DHS I had a chance to talk with a Coast Guard officer

Who was later sent to DC to try and help sort things out in the transition of this. After he had finished processing my paperwork for an annual boaters permit on the Great Lakes he gave me my papers and told us that if we had any problems with how we were treated on the lake that we should contact him as under the new regs at least five law enforcement organizations could pull over, detain or board and inspect the vessel at any time. He passed my paperwork across the table and I asked him if he knew what my happiest day would be? He said no and my response was…when DHS is disbanded and the Coast Guard gets their powers back! His response…You and me both!! My sailing partner sucked air as he was witnessing this and so thankful for the response. From the minute DHS was put into play it was clear that we were living in a ‘high class’ prison camp…..now it’s just a prison camp.

[yellow dahlia]

31. Your illustration shows how clear this was at all levels, except the ones behind it.

OR - they actually knew...but they attained their goal

[Harker]

22. Senator Russ Feingold of WI was the sole Nay in the Senate.

[Blue Full Moon]

23. Repeal the Homeland Security Act and the Patriot Act

They would never do anything to stop 911. They put onerous rules on citizens. I would guess that the murders by police start increasing.

[Buddyzbuddy]

24. Part of yhe reason it was consolidated from many departments

was because one hand didn't know what the other was doing. They were not sharing information with each other so it was difficult to get a clear big picture of the threat from Bin Laden. Some theories are that it was purposeful.
The same theories floated after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Either way, it has become too powerful and should be dismantled and they should return to the departments they once were with one added dept. overseeing the collection of data, organizing reports and acting on intelligence at behest of the President and advisors.

[DinahMoeHum]

25. Now you know why Rep Marie Gluesenkamp Perez D-WA3

voted YES on funding for DHS to avoid a government shutdown.

You say:

Why is the Coast Guard under DHS? Yes, I understand their role in maritime security and vessel inspection but they have nothing in common with The National Communications Center.

After her vote, she issued a statement regarding the importance of the Coast Guard and FEMA in her district:

https://gluesenkampperez.house.gov/posts/gluesenkamp-perez-releases-statement-on-her-vote-to-keep-the-government-open

“When fishermen in Pacific County get in trouble out on the water, the Coast Guard makes sure they’re safe. When there’s flooding or landslides in Southwest Washington, FEMA helps our families get back on their feet. The Department of Homeland Security is extremely important to my community. I could not in good conscience vote to shut it down.

“In a DHS shutdown, ICE would continue operating with limited oversight thanks to funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill, which I voted against. Meanwhile, agencies like the Coast Guard or FEMA–and communities like mine–would take the hit."

It's important to understand that her district WA-3 in SW Washington state voted for Trump in 2024 while also voting for her (a Democrat) that year.

With the exception of Longview and Vancouver, most of this district is rural, and the areas near the Columbia River are largely populated by commercial fishermen and farmers.

Having the Coast Guard and FEMA within the DHS network is a huge problem for her. In effect, she's been stuck between a rock and a hard place.

One more thing: her field office in Vancouver was recently vandalized:
https://www.opb.org/article/2026/01/27/representative-marie-glusenkamp-perez-washington-vancouver-politics/


Just my 2 cents.

[reACTIONary]

26. DHS is analogous to other country's...

.... Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, etc.

In the US, the "Department of the Interior" was already taken, so they had to come up with some other name.

Ministries of the Interior are generally responsible for internal security, national security, police forces, border control, immigration, citizenship, etc.

It's a pretty standard organizational division.

[niyad]

30. Actually, I did know this.

[BaronChocula]

38. Yeah

I'm surprised that someone is surprised about this. Makes me feel old.

[LT Barclay]

32. As a US Coast Guard retiree, I agree. I have so many stories about how things changed for the worse after we were taken

from DOT.

[LiberalArkie]

35. Bush (the lesser) rolled all LEO into Homeland because "they can not communicate effectively seperated

and would be more effective under a unified leadership"

[republianmushroom]

39. And it transformed into the American SS Gestapo .

Who would of thought that would happen.

[ms liberty]

41. Yea, some of us remember this.

[babylonsister]

42. I remember this happening, so

that must make me an Average Older Gal. I also remember how angry this consolidation made me. And how I abhorred 'the blivet' for starting a war.

[Figarosmom]

46. It was part of the Patriot Act

Just like the law that any bank transaction over $10,000, has yo have a reason on record at the bank. My bank even asked me if I had any relatives of royalty in any other country.