Critical Releases in Homeland Security: September 16, 2015

"FEMA is responsible for integrating federal disaster logistics efforts--that is, the ability to deliver goods to disaster survivors. The NRF [National Response Framework] guides how the nation is to respond to all types of disasters, and its ESF 7 [Emergency Support Function #7] Annex describes the actions that FEMA is to take in collaborating with federal partners and state and local stakeholders to deliver disaster logistics support and assess state and local logistics capabilities. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess FEMA's disaster logistics efforts. This report discusses the extent to which FEMA has (1) implemented ESF 7 guidance and incorporated leading practices for interagency collaboration with its federal partners, and (2) implemented ESF 7 guidance in collaborating with state and local stakeholders and incorporated effective program management practices for its logistics assessment program. GAO reviewed relevant documentation such as interagency agreements and ESF 7 responsibilities, and data on delivery of resources from fiscal years 2010 through 2014. GAO also interviewed FEMA and federal partner officials, as well as a nongeneralizable sample of 10 states and 1 territory in order to gain insight into FEMA's efforts."

"Contractors have been and are an integral part of the intelligence community's (IC's) total workforce (which also includes federal employees and military personnel). Yet questions have been raised regarding how they are used, and the size and cost of the contractor component. Of particular interest are core contract personnel, who provide direct technical, managerial, and administrative support to agency staff. Examples of these types of support are collection and operations, analysis and production, and enterprise information and technology. The use of core contract personnel enables the IC to meet its needs, which may involve obtaining unique expertise or surge support for a particular mission, or augmenting insufficient in-house resources."

From the press release: "Key takeaways in this month's 'Terror Threat Snapshot' include: [1] The jihadist threat in the U.S. homeland is high and has escalated dramatically this year. […] [2] ISIS is fueling the Islamist terror wildfire across the globe at unprecedented speed. […] [3] Islamist terrorists are intent on killing American law enforcement and military personnel, in addition to innocent civilians. […] [and 4] ISIS has largely maintained its terror safe havens in Syria and Iraq while expanding globally more than a year after the U.S. and its allies launched operations against it."