New office at DHS to counter WMDs

Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen announced last week the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office. The new office is established at a time when “The United States faces rising danger from terrorist groups and rogue nation states,” said Secretary Nielsen.

According to Nielsen, “DHS is moving towards a more integrated approach, bringing together intelligence, operations, interagency engagement, and international action. As terrorism evolves, we must stay ahead of the enemy and the establishment of this office is an important part of our efforts to do so.”

The mission of the CWMD Office is to counter attempts by terrorists to other threat actors to carry out an attack against the United States or its interests using a WMD. The office will lead DHS efforts to counter WMD threats and allow for greater policy coordination and strategic planning, while providing greater visibility for DHS’s CWMD mission.

The CWMD Office will be led by Mr. James McDonnell, Director of the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.

For more information on the CWMD office, please follow the links below.
Secretary Nielsen Announces the Establishment of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, Department of Homeland Security
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, Department of Homeland Security