About the project

The Future of DHS Project is a project of Forward Defense within the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. The project develops recommendations for how to improve the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

We released our foundational report on the future of DHS in September 2020, with executive-level recommendations to inform White House decisionmakers, as well as our recommendations for congressional oversight in December 2020.

Read our key findings and recommendations:

Eight big ideas for the second Trump administration

Issue Brief Aug 13, 2020

Future of DHS Project: Key findings and recommendations

By Thomas Warrick & Caitlin Durkovich

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) needs to refocus its mission to lead the defense of the United States against major nonmilitary threats.
China Coronavirus
Eight big ideas for the second Trump administration

Issue Brief Dec 29, 2020

The Future of DHS Project: Key Findings and Recommendations: Congressional Oversight

By Thomas Warrick & Mark J. Massa

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is overseen by more than ninety committees and subcommittees–an oversight burden far greater than any other cabinet department. This issue brief proposes that Congress streamline its oversight of DHS to increase its effectiveness as a department with national security responsibilities.
Defense Policy Infrastructure Protection

latest analysis

Eight big ideas for the second Trump administration

Issue Brief Jan 31, 2022

Biometrics at the border: Balancing security, convenience, and civil liberties

By Seth Stodder, Thomas S. Warrick

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellows Seth Stodder and Tom Warrick consider how US Customs and Border Protection can employ biometrics for safer, more efficient border operations.
Defense Policy Defense Technologies
Eight big ideas for the second Trump administration

Aug 3, 2021

The future of counterterrorism: Twenty years after 9/11

National security experts examine how the United States and its allies and partners must reimagine their counterterrorism strategies to counter the next terrorist threat.
Eight big ideas for the second Trump administration

Report Sep 9, 2020

Future of DHS Project: Full report

By Thomas Warrick & Caitlin Durkovich

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) needs to refocus its mission to lead the defense of the United States against major nonmilitary threats.
China Coronavirus

Content

New Atlanticist

Jan 17, 2025

Eight big ideas for the second Trump administration

By Atlantic Council experts

President-elect Donald Trump has promised to shake up US policies early in his second term. Atlantic Council experts share eight ideas on where to start.

Economy & Business Elections

Future of DHS

Sep 26, 2024

The Secret Service needs a budget increase—but so does the rest of the Department of Homeland Security

By Thomas S. Warrick

On Wednesday, Congress passed a bill to increase Secret Service funding in response to threats, after two assassination attempts against Donald Trump. The same logic should apply to the overall DHS budget.

Migration National Security
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Events

Register for upcoming events

Public Event Thu, March 27, 2025 • 2:00 pm ET

Software-defined warfare: A blueprint for sustaining a competitive military edge
Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry Defense Policy Defense Technologies

Watch past events

Public Event Fri, March 22, 2024 • 10:30 am ET

Building resilience in US communities
Non-Traditional Threats Resilience Resilience & Society United States and Canada
Public Event Tue, May 23, 2023 • 9:00 am ET

Cybersecurity creates new horizons for Abraham Accords
Cybersecurity Defense Technologies Disinformation Intelligence
Online Event Mon, January 31, 2022 • 2:00 pm ET

Biometrics at the border: Balancing security, convenience, and civil liberties
Crisis Management Mexico Migration National Security
Online Event Tue, June 8, 2021 • 12:00 pm ET

Avoiding the next transatlantic security crisis: The looming clash over Passenger Name Record data
Europe & Eurasia International Norms International Organizations National Security
Online Event Mon, January 25, 2021 • 2:30 pm ET

After the insurrection: The future of the domestic terrorism threat
Americas Democratic Transitions Extremism Populism

Meet our experts

Fellow

Thomas S. Warrick

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

National Security Terrorism

Fellow

Sue Ramanathan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Crisis Management Democratic Transitions

Fellow

Seth Stodder

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Coronavirus Cybersecurity

Fellow

Francis X. Taylor

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Intelligence National Security

Forward Defense, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, generates ideas and connects stakeholders in the defense ecosystem to promote an enduring military advantage for the United States, its allies, and partners. Our work identifies the defense strategies, capabilities, and resources the United States needs to deter and, if necessary, prevail in future conflict.

Learn more

Content

New Atlanticist

Jan 17, 2025

Eight big ideas for the second Trump administration

By Atlantic Council experts

President-elect Donald Trump has promised to shake up US policies early in his second term. Atlantic Council experts share eight ideas on where to start.

Economy & Business Elections

Future of DHS

Sep 26, 2024

The Secret Service needs a budget increase—but so does the rest of the Department of Homeland Security

By Thomas S. Warrick

On Wednesday, Congress passed a bill to increase Secret Service funding in response to threats, after two assassination attempts against Donald Trump. The same logic should apply to the overall DHS budget.

Migration National Security

Issue Brief

Feb 21, 2024

This year’s bipartisan immigration bill offers a border blueprint for 2025

By Thomas S. Warrick

The consequences of another year of inaction on border security and immigration policy may convince a supermajority in the Congress to take up again in 2025 many of the ideas in this year’s bipartisan Senate compromise—no matter which party captures the White House in November.

Mexico Migration

New Atlanticist

Aug 15, 2023

How to put out the fires of violent political extremism

By Thomas S. Warrick and Mick Mulroy

The danger posed by domestic violent extremists is considerable. The United States needs a nationwide, community-grounded initiative to address this threat.

Civil Society Extremism

Future of DHS

May 10, 2023

Atlantic Council announces new experts’ coalition to promote nonpartisan solutions to the United States’ border and immigration challenges

The Atlantic Council today announced the formation of a new coalition of experts in border and immigration security and cross-border trade who will work together to advance nonpartisan, pragmatic solutions to the United States’ border and immigration challenges.

The effective employment of biometric data at US entry points has the potential to cut down on travel times and enhance border security.

Issue Brief

Jan 31, 2022

Biometrics at the border: Balancing security, convenience, and civil liberties

By Seth Stodder, Thomas S. Warrick

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellows Seth Stodder and Tom Warrick consider how US Customs and Border Protection can employ biometrics for safer, more efficient border operations.

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

Future of DHS

Dec 13, 2021

Warrick in Bloomberg Government on DHS Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Thomas Warrick comments on the importance of DHS Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans.

Extremism Intelligence

Future of DHS

Dec 1, 2021

Warrick in Bloomberg Government on DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Thomas Warrick comments on the importance of DHS intelligence.

Extremism Intelligence

Future of DHS

Apr 28, 2021

Warrick in Cipher Brief on the coming border crisis

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense and Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East Programs Nonresident Senior Fellow Thomas S. Warrick published an article in the Cipher Brief titled "How do we get past the coming border crisis?"

Migration National Security

Future of DHS

Apr 26, 2021

Warrick in the Washington Post on extremism within DHS

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Thomas S. Warrick was quoted in an article in the Washington Post titled "Homeland Security launches review of violent extremism within agency."

Defense Policy Extremism
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