This publication is now archived. Can fire departments help respond to terrorist attacks? Yes, as they famously did on September 11. America’s 31,000 local fire department are the first line of…

This publication is now archived. Has the job of America’s police departments changed since September 11? Yes. While the core mission of police departments—responding to emergencies and ensurin…

With the strategic focus of the U.S. military in flux and the Pentagon’s budget under significant scrutiny, this CFR Issue Tracker looks at the 2012 presidential candidates’ positions on defense.

This publication is now archived. What is the Department of Homeland Security? It’s the newest cabinet department, approved by Congress in November 2002. It’s designed to consolidate U.S. defen…

As the Pentagon attempts to refocus the U.S. military strategy toward Asia, the department is facing major budget constraints. Experts disagree on how to balance the fiscal challenge with the country…