Combating Terrorism: Use of National Guard Response Teams Is Unclear
NSIAD-99-110
Published: May 21, 1999. Publicly Released: Jun 23, 1999.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the creation of 10 National Guard Rapid Assessment and Initial Detection (RAID) teams, focusing on: (1) obtaining the views of federal, state, and local officials regarding the role of RAID teams in response plans; (2) determining whether there are other federal, state, or local government entities that can perform similar functions to the RAID teams; and (3) evaluating the RAID teams' roles and responsibilities and how the teams plan to meet these responsibilities.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress may wish to consider restricting the use of appropriated funds for additional RAID teams until the National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-Terrorism completes a reassessment. |
Closed – Not Implemented
|
No action has been taken. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-Terrorism | The National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-Terrorism, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Director, FEMA, and the Secretary of Defense, should reassess the need for the RAID teams in light of the numerous local, state, and federal organizations that can provide similar functions and submit the results of this reassessment to Congress. If the teams are needed, the National Coordinator should direct a test of the RAID team concept in the initial 10 states to determine how the teams can best fit into coordinated state and federal response plans and whether the teams can effectively perform their functions. If the RAID teams are not needed, they should be inactivated. |
Closed – Not Implemented
No action has been taken.
|
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Topics
Combating terrorismDefense contingency planningEmergency managementEmergency preparednessEmergency response plansstate relationsHomeland securityInteragency relationsNational defense operationsRedundancyTerrorismTerroristsWeapons of mass destruction