American Legion [Janice Im, Zion Kim, Simran Kaur, Ethan Chiu] U.S Bureaucracy Assignment

AP United States Government & Politics- Band 8

The American Legion [Janice Im, Zion Kim, Simran Kaur, Ethan Chiu]

Department/Agency Assignment

Central Intelligence Agency

• Agency founded 09/18/1947.
• Created when former president Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act into law, especially due to the unforeseen attack on Pearl Harbor and the need for coordinated intelligence efforts at the end of WW2.
• Current director: John O. Brennan
•  The topic of whether the Central Intelligence Agency’s actions claimed as “enhanced interrogation techniques” can be justified. The U.S. Department of Justice, however, has shown controversial investigations, many inquiring that the investigations cannot be considered to have been carried out with criminal liability. http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/262947-delusion-of-justice-on-cia-torture         

U.S. European Command

• This Department was founded in 1952
• The Joint Chiefs of Staff approved president Eisenhower’s declaration to command U.S. forces in Europe and make a staff under a deputy for joint U.S. military affairs leading to the creation of this agency
• The commander is U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove
• EUCOM provides update on the European Reassurance Initiative (defense and security of NATO allies). U.S European Command continues to support the defense and security of NATO allies and bolster the security and capacity of U.S. partners in Europe. http://www.eucom.mil/media-library/article/33026/eucom-provides-update-on-the-european-reassurance-initiative

Department of Transportation (DOT)

• It was established by an act of Congress (Public Law 89-670) on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967.
• Prior to the Department of Transportation, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Transportation administered the functions now associated with the DOT. In 1965, Najeeb Halaby, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), suggested to President Lyndon B. Johnson that transportation be elevated to a cabinet-level post, and that the FAA be folded into the DOT.

• Leadership of the DOT is provided by the Secretary of Transportation, who is the principal adviser to the President in all matters relating to federal transportation programs. The Secretary is assisted by the Deputy Secretary in this role. The Office of the Secretary (OST) oversees the formulation of national transportation policy and promotes intermodal transportation. Other responsibilities range from negotiation and implementation of international transportation agreements, assuring the fitness of US airlines, enforcing airline consumer protection regulations, issuance of regulations to prevent alcohol and illegal drug misuse in transportation systems and preparing transportation legislation. Anthony R. Foxx, who resides in North Carolina, took office on July 2, 2013 and currently serves in office as the Secretary of Transportation today.
•  Secretary of Transportation Anthony R. Foxx pushes Congress to approve a long-term infrastructure bill and the Department of Transportation has warned that its Highway Trust Fund will run out of money unless run out of money unless Congress acts to replenish it. Also, transportation advocates have pushed for an increase in the gas tax to boost infrastructure funding, but the Obama administration has said it would prefer using revenue from taxing overseas corporate profits to pay for new construction projects. http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/233357-dot-chief-to-congress-think-big-on-infrastructure-funding

         

Congressional Budget Office

• Agency founded 07/12/1974.
• Created because conflict between the legislative and executive branches reached an all time high during the summer of 1974. Congress members objected to Nixon’s threats to withhold Congressional appropriations for programs inconsistent with his policies. It led to the enactment of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
• Current director: Keith Hall
• The CBO supports the cause of ObamaCare with the claim that it would save billions of dollars over a decade. http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/264696-cbo-bill-to-gut-obamacare-would-save-half-trillion-over-a-decade

     

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

• Founded in November of 2002 with the passage of the Homeland Security Act, opened doors on March 1, 2003
• Created by unifying 22 different federal departments and agencies into one collective department for homeland security, as a response to the September 11th attacks
• Current Secretary of Homeland Security: Jeh Johnson
• On November 30, 2015, the Obama Administration, influenced by the Paris attacks, strengthened the Visa Waiver Program in an effort to control who entered the United States. This change included accelerating the use of e-passports containing electronic chips, strengthening the DHS system, passing counter terrorism screening, modifying the electronic DHS system to help identify US-bound travelers who have previously traveled to terrorist-active countries, implementing a 60 day review process to identify cooperation issues with countries participating in the program, and expanding the use of fingerprinting and security photographs. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/11/30/after-paris-attacks-obama-administration-strengthens-visa-waiver-program