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:

Warrick quoted in the Washington Post on preventing US election-related unrest

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 quoted in the Washington Post on preventing US election-related unrest

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 quoted in the Washington Post on preventing US election-related unrest

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 quoted in the Washington Post on preventing US election-related unrest

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 quoted in the Washington Post on preventing US election-related unrest

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

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
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
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Events

Register for upcoming events

Public Event Tue, April 23, 2024 • 4:00 pm ET

Space industry for space strategy
Defense Industry Defense Policy Space Space Security
Public Event Fri, April 26, 2024 • 1:00 pm ET

Report launch: The sixth domain and the role of the private sector
Conflict Cybersecurity Infrastructure Protection National Security

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
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
Online Event Thu, December 17, 2020 • 4:45 pm ET

The Future of DHS project: Time to reform Congressional oversight of the Department of Homeland Security
Defense Policy National Security Political Reform United States and Canada

Meet our experts

Fellow

Thomas S. Warrick

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Forward Defense Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

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

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

Future of DHS

Aug 24, 2020

Warrick quoted in the Washington Post on preventing US election-related unrest

By Atlantic Council

Thomas Warrick—director of the Future of DHS Project—warned in this Washington Post article of the risk of escalating violence around the US election and suggested that politicians and government officials can work to reduce, rather than incite, that violence. More about our experts

Democratic Transitions Elections

Future of DHS

Aug 13, 2020

Warrick and Durkovich quoted in the Washington Post on the Future of DHS Project

By Atlantic Council

Thomas Warrick and Caitlin Durkovich—directors of the Future of DHS Project—were quoted in this Washington Post article on the mission of the Department of Homeland Security. Refocusing DHS's mission on nonmilitary threats to the homeland is a key recommendation of the Key Findings and Recommendations published by the project.

Cybersecurity Disinformation

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

Future of DHS

Jun 2, 2020

Max Brooks on non-military threats to the homeland

China, Russia, and Iran learned a very different lesson from the one the United States learned after the hundred hour-campaign in 1990-1991 to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein. Writer Max Brooks, author of World War Z, put it this way:

Defense Policy National Security

Future of DHS

Apr 1, 2020

Warrick quoted in FedScoop on Future of DHS Project

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus Cybersecurity

Future of DHS

Apr 1, 2020

Atlantic Council Future of DHS Project mentioned in POLITICO

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus Cybersecurity

Future of DHS

Mar 31, 2020

Atlantic Council Future of DHS Project mentioned in ExecutiveBiz

By Atlantic Council

Crisis Management Cybersecurity