Nineteen years ago, our world forever changed. The loss of Sept. 11 at the hands of terrorists remains profound and nearly unimaginable. The attacks struck symbols of America — free enterprise, military might, and idyllic Pennsylvania farmland. We still recall the anguish of over 3,000 lives forever gone.
Today, we mourn and remember.
Nearly two decades later, we still bear the marks of suffering, but through the dust and ashes of tragedy, we have emerged an even stronger America. The resilience and unity of our people were revealed for the world to see. The grief of Sept. 11 gave way to a rebirth of patriotism, as together we rededicated ourselves to unique principles that make America great: freedom, justice, and equality under the law.
The American creed is precious and precarious, only as secure as the state of our homeland. The terrorists of Sept. 11 targeted America, believing our freedom made us vulnerable. They were wrong. The commitment of our people to liberty and self-governance was not shaken in the face of terrorism, it was redoubled.
Understanding that freedom is both essential and fragile, policymakers moved to form a Cabinet agency that unified all federal efforts to protect our homeland. As President George W. Bush stated, the Department of Homeland Security was created to better “analyze threats,” “guard our borders and airports, protect our critical infrastructure, and coordinate the response of our Nation to future emergencies.” This put an end to the fragmented approach of stove-piped information and siloed enforcement efforts.
Nearly two decades later, our dedication to the mission of safeguarding the public, our homeland, and our values remains robust and unyielding. DHS proudly stands against all enemies seeking to weaken and destroy the principles for which America stands. Our resolve and commitment to secure the homeland from those enemies, both foreign and domestic, have never been stronger.
Recall that the hijackers exploited the very gaps in our immigration enforcement and national security systems that DHS ultimately was created to remedy. President Trump has taken bold and decisive action to raise the baseline of security screening and to restore integrity to our immigration system, recognizing that a secure immigration system is essential to homeland security. It is our solemn duty to never allow the entry of individuals hostile toward America and our founding principles.
But make no mistake, the threats facing our homeland have evolved and progressed since Sept. 11. The challenges we face today are ever more complex and sophisticated than the challenges present at our establishment in 2003. As the threat environment shifts, so, too, the department must adapt.
DHS was created to be agile and nimble, responding with alacrity to the evolving threats of tomorrow — and so we are.
Over the years, we have developed a more comprehensive perspective drawn from the trials, obstacles, and successes in order to keep our homeland secure. Each and every day, DHS professionals work to thwart and dismantle a vast array of threats posed by cybercriminals and nation-states, cartels and transnational criminal organizations, foreign and domestic terrorists, pandemics, and natural disasters.
Threats may change, but our resolve does not. From the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Secret Service, the components of DHS are distinct and diverse. But it is through our singleness in mission and unity of purpose that DHS is prepared to tackle such a breadth of challenges. The skill and acumen of our DHS personnel, coupled with the unwavering support of Trump, have enabled us to realize unprecedented achievements in security.
Today, America is more prosperous, more prepared, and more equipped to tackle the threats facing our nation. But rest assured, the best is yet to come, for DHS and our nation.
The strength of our union has always been forged by fire. We must never forget Sept. 11. Today, we remember the families of the fallen, the first responders, and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice defending our flag and our people. Created to secure the liberty preserved by law and order that makes America great, DHS always stands prepared. Ready to serve with honor and integrity, the men and women of DHS are ever ready to rise and face the next challenge that threatens our homeland.
Chad Wolf is the acting secretary of Homeland Security.
