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Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
Within Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative
In recent years, CNAS has expanded its institutional footprint on the interconnected issues of domestic security, bolstering U.S. democracy, and supporting the rule of law. This body of work is now conducted under the organization’s Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative and includes projects facilitated through a combination of public engagement, private stakeholder convenings, and scholarly research and writing. Projects conducted under the umbrella of this initiative focus on protecting against domestic threats to security and public safety, including a high-level task force and report in 2022 focused on countering violent extremism among the military, veteran, and law enforcement communities.
In addition, the initiative includes a project devoted to providing recommendations for enhancing oversight and accountability in the Department of Homeland Security, and additional research on bolstering authorities, oversight and transparency related to intelligence activities, including surveillance, and cyber operations to protect the U.S. against evolving national security threats. In 2021, CNAS hosted public-facing virtual events focused on domestic terrorism and political violence and homeland security. Leading up to the presidential election of 2020, CNAS executed a high-impact, short term project on securing elections, which brought together academic and policy experts, a federal government leader and a state government leader to provide accurate and informed commentary on protecting elections from foreign interference. And, in 2018-2019, CNAS produced research and writing on the issue of intelligence oversight, including recommendations for improving congressional intelligence oversight as a mechanism of ensuring democratic accountability for intelligence activities.
Highlights
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Protecting the Protectors: Preventing and Mitigating Domestic Violent Extremism in the Military, Veteran, and Law Enforcement Communities
Reports
In recent years, the involvement of currently serving military members and law enforcement officers, as well as veterans of those two professions, in domestic violent extremis...
By Carrie Cordero, Katherine L. Kuzminski, Arona Baigal & Josh Campbell
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Reforming the Department of Homeland Security Through Enhanced Oversight & Accountability
Reports
In a new report, Carrie Cordero outlines the pressures placed on DHS's immigration enforcement, border security, and law enforcement components....
By Carrie Cordero
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Reassessing Homeland Security Intelligence
Reports
The discipline of intelligence has been a central element of the homeland security enterprise over the past two decades since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The ...
By Christian Beckner
