At the same time, the need for speed to get the new department up and running must be balanced with the need to maintain readiness for new and existing threats during the transition period.
They were not able to form a new department. 
mnli hypothesis: They were not able to form a new department.  premise: At the same time, the need for speed to get the new department up and running must be balanced with the need to maintain readiness for new and existing threats during the transition period.