About the project

The Future of DHS Project is a project of the Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative 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:

Warrick in The Telegraph on Cyber Appointment

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
Warrick in The Telegraph on Cyber Appointment

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

Warrick in The Telegraph on Cyber Appointment

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
Warrick in The Telegraph on Cyber Appointment

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.
Warrick in The Telegraph on Cyber Appointment

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

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

The Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative, in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, works to advance resilience as a core tenet of US and allied national security policy and practice.

Learn more

Content

Future of DHS

Apr 12, 2021

Warrick in The Telegraph on Cyber Appointment

By Atlantic Council

On April 12, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Thomas S. Warrick was quoted in an article in The Telegraph. The article focused on the appointment of new cyber officials in the Biden administration, with Warrick giving some context about the background of Jen Easterly, tapped to run the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Cybersecurity Defense Policy

Future of DHS

Mar 17, 2021

Future of DHS Project cited in House Appropriations Committee hearing on DHS management challenges

By Atlantic Council

On March 17, the House Committee on Appropriations convened a hearing on "DHS Management Challenges" with co-Chairs of Forward Defense's Future of DHS Project advisory board and former secretaries of DHS Michael Chertoff and Jeh Johnson.

Defense Policy National Security

Future of DHS

Jan 10, 2021

Warrick interviewed on Government Matters on security risks of Capitol attack

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense and Hariri Center non-resident senior fellow Thomas Warrick was interviewed on "Government Matters" on the security implications of the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol.

Crisis Management Cybersecurity

Event Recap

Jan 8, 2021

Future of DHS Project examines the role of Congressional oversight in department reform

By Julia Siegel

On Thursday, December 17, the Scowcroft Center’s Forward Defense practice and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a panel of former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials to discuss why now is the time to streamline congressional oversight of DHS.

Coronavirus Cybersecurity

Future of DHS

Jan 7, 2021

Warrick quoted in CBS News on Capitol insurrection

By Atlantic Council

On January 7, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Thomas Warrick was quoted in an article by CBS News titled “Fears of new attacks after pro-Trump rioters breach Capitol.”

Extremism National Security

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

Future of DHS

Dec 17, 2020

Warrick on Newsy Tonight on SolarWinds hack

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense non-resident senior fellow and Future of DHS Project Director Thomas Warrick was interviewed on Newsy Tonight on the implications of the SolarWinds hack of the US government. Warrick commented on the gravity of the cyber espionage and the actions that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a component of the Department of Homeland Security, was taking to mitigate the intrusion.

Cybersecurity Defense Technologies

Future of DHS

Nov 24, 2020

Six former and acting secretaries of Homeland Security sign open letter on consolidating Congressional oversight of DHS

By Atlantic Council

On November 4, six former and acting secretaries of Homeland Security signed an open letter to Congressional leadership calling for action to consolidate and strengthen oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) prior to the convening of the 117th Congress.

China Coronavirus

Future of DHS

Nov 12, 2020

Warrick mentioned in Politico article on election transition

By Atlantic Council

On November 12, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Thomas Warrick was mentioned in a Politico article highlighting a letter signed by over 150 former national security officials warning the government of the serious national security risk posed by the delay in recognizing President-Elect Biden.

Democratic Transitions Disinformation

Future of DHS

Oct 26, 2020

Warrick featured on the Burn Bag Podcast

By Atlantic Council

On October 26, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Thomas S. Warrick spoke on an episode of the Burn Bag Podcast titled “Defending the Homeland: Crises, Controversies, and Successes at the Department of Homeland Security.” In the episode, Mr. Warrick discussed findings of the Future of DHS Report, highlighting the changing threat environment facing DHS.

Cybersecurity Infrastructure Protection
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