“The September 11 attacks shattered confidence in the Federal government’s capability to prevent terrorism attacks on the homeland. There was widespread concern about the seeming ease with which the terrorists involved in the attacks entered and remained in the United States as well as the inability of Federal agencies to ‘connect the dots’ concerning the evidence of the upcoming attacks. In response, in October 2001, President Bush issued an Executive Order to establish the Office of Homeland Security within the White House to coordinate counterterrorism efforts…. The President selected Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, who resigned his position as Governor to head the Office and lead the coordination efforts. “The public response to Governor Ridge’s appointment was generally favorable but there were concerns that this new position did not have the authority or resources needed to centralize the homeland security function, and that Ridge’s advisory position gave him no control over many agencies involved. The appointment also troubled some members of Congress because Congress’ oversight role was minimized under this structure. Legislation based on the recommendations of the Commission on National Security/21st Century [Hart-Rudman] was soon introduced to establish a Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security. The Bush Administration initially opposed such a step, but as support for a new cabinet Department grew, the White House began its own design work. A small group of aides, meeting at the White House, devised a plan which was reviewed only by senior White House officials before being approved by President Bush. This plan, which came as a surprise to the Cabinet officials most affected by it was unveiled in June 2003 after six weeks of meetings. The lack of open debate by key players, which was designed to speed the process by limiting review, is seen by many as having set in motion some of the organizational problems which plague DHS to this day. After several months of debate focusing primarily on a new personnel system proposed by the White House, Congress passed legislation establishing the new Department along the lines proposed by the White House and the earlier Congressional legislation. On November 25, 2002, the President signed into law the Homeland Security Act, setting in motion the largest Federal reorganization since the creation of the Department of Defense in 1947. Governor Ridge was named DHS’s first Secretary”. (NAPA, Addressing the 2009 Presidential Transition at…DHS, May 2008 Agency Review Draft, pp. 8-9)