Future of DHS Archives

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:

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

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

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

Featured analysis

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

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.

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

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, 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

Issue Brief

Feb 21, 2024

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

By Thomas S. Warrick

Mexico Migration

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

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