Department of Homeland Security 

Office of Inspector General 

DHS' Counterintelligence Activities 
 

(Summary) 
 

OIG-10-97 July 2010 
Office ofInspector General 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

Washington, DC 20528 

Homeland 

Security 

JUL 2 9 2010 

Preface 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established by 

the Homeland Security Act of2002 (Public Law 107-296) by amendment to the Inspector General 

Act of1978. This is one of a series of audit, inspection, and special reports prepared as part of our 

oversight responsibilities to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the department. 

This report addresses the strengths and weaknesses of DHS' counterintelligence activities. It is 

based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions, direct 

observations, and a review of applicable documents. 

The recommendations herein have been developed to the best knowledge available to our office, and 

have been discussed in draft with those responsible for implementation. We trust this report will 

result in more effective, efficient, and economical operations. We express our appreciation to all of 

those who contributed to the preparation of this report. 

/~Q(.~

Richard L. Skinner 

Inspector General 
 

OIG
 
 Department of Homeland Security 

Office of Inspector General 

Summary 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is one of the largest and most 

visible federal departments. Throughout DHS, designated personnel have 

access to classified information and systems. Protecting the department 

involves safeguarding personnel, information, operations, programs, and 

technologies from intelligence threats. To counter these threats, the 

department has developed capabilities to detect and neutralize intelligence 

vulnerabilities. 

We assessed DHS’ counterintelligence activities. Specifically, we focused on 

the program’s history, evolution, activities, and coordination and collaboration 

efforts. Executive Order 12333, as amended, defines counterintelligence as 

information gathered and activities conducted to identify, deceive, exploit, 

disrupt, or protect against espionage, other intelligence activities, sabotage, or 

assassinations conducted for or on behalf of foreign powers, organizations, or 

persons, or their agents, or international terrorist organizations or activities. 

The DHS Counterintelligence Program conducts the department’s 

counterintelligence mission activities at the direction of, and under the 

authority of the Secretary. The primary mission of DHS’ Counterintelligence 

Program is to prevent adversaries from penetrating the department to exploit 

sensitive information, operations, programs, personnel, and resources. In 

addition, the United States Coast Guard provides Coast Guard specific 

counterintelligence support to the department. Their primary mission is to 

preserve operational integrity by shielding operations, personnel, systems, 

facilities, and information from intelligence threats. Although the United 

States Coast Guard has been successful in developing its counterintelligence 

program, the DHS Counterintelligence Program has experienced some 

organizational challenges. 

We made multiple recommendations to help the department enhance its 

coordination of counterintelligence activities, define roles and responsibilities, 

and to improve its oversight. 

DHS’ Counterintelligence Activities
 


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COPIES 

To obtain additional copies of this report, please call the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at (202) 254-4100, 

fax your request to (202) 254-4305, or visit the OIG web site at www.dhs.gov/oig. 

OIG HOTLINE 

To report alleged fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement, or any other kind of criminal or noncriminal 

misconduct relative to department programs or operations: 

• Call our Hotline at 1-800-323-8603; 

• Fax the complaint directly to us at (202) 254-4292; 

• Email us at DHSOIGHOTLINE@dhs.gov; or 

• Write to us at: 

DHS Office of Inspector General/MAIL STOP 2600, 

Attention: Office of Investigations - Hotline, 

245 Murray Drive, SW, Building 410, 

Washington, DC 20528. 

The OIG seeks to protect the identity of each writer and caller.