Homeland Security Office fighting to keep nukes out

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing on domestic defenses against nuclear attacks. Chairman Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) said that nuclear detection architecture, the responsibility of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), is of great importance because it prevents nuclear terrorism before it can happen. He expressed concern that the DNDO is only a coordinating agency and has very little authority to make changes to increase efficiency and efficacy.

Mark Mullen, assistant director of architecture for the DNDO, part of the Department of Homeland Security, said the Office uses three steps in creating defense architecture. First, it takes inventory of existing prevention techniques, analyzes and creates solutions, then implements new systems. Charles Gallaway, deputy director of the DNDO, said the measured three-step approach applied to three layers (threats overseas, at the border, and within the country), helped the U.S. become safer from nuclear attacks now than it was three years ago.

David Maurer, the acting director of natural resources and environment at the Government Accountability Office, said that although the DNDO’s new programs are a step in the right direction, the Office has yet to establish a comprehensive, strategic plan to coordinate the programs. Robert Nesbit, the senior vice president and general manager of the MITRE Corporation’s Center for Integrated Intelligence Systems, said that despite improvements in technology and detection, if a terrorist got hold of a nuclear weapon, he or she is likely to be especially skilled and more likely able to actually carry out an attack.