Index
Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2001
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
AG
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888

MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF DEPARTMENT COMPONENTS


FROM: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

SUBJECT: Comprehensive Review and Reorganization of the Department of Justice to Meet Counterterrorism Mission

The Department of Justice is the guardian of liberty in our land. Our mission is to preserve the Constitutional rights and freedoms of all Americans, and our sacred responsibility is to protect those who are weak, vulnerable or oppressed.

We build upon the heritage of our predecessors – the men and women who were the trust busters in the nineteenth century, who safeguarded our Nation's internal security from fascists and communists, who declared legal war on mafia bosses and corrupt political machines, and who crusaded for every American's equality and civil rights. Their victories built the foundation upon which we now stand, and helped to secure the liberties we must now safeguard from terrorism.

The Justice Department may be more complex, but our mission today must be just as clear as it was for our predecessors. This Department exists to protect American's Constitutional rights from threats, foreign and domestic, that would rob us our basic liberties. To pursue this noble cause, we exercise sweeping powers and vast resources. Guided by the Constitution, we are limited only by the depth of our resolve and the clarity of our vision.

In the days following September 11th, our vision became clear as our resolve hardened. The President has charged us with a critical mission: to protect our nation and its citizens from a serious, immediate and ongoing threat of terrorism. To fulfill this mission, we will devote all resources necessary to disrupt, weaken, and eliminate terrorist networks, to prevent or thwart terrorist attacks, and to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorist acts. The fight against terrorism is now the first and overriding priority of the Department of Justice.

We are releasing today the Department of Justice's Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2001-2006. This plan reflects the new realities of our mission, and describes the goals and objectives we will pursue to accomplish it. First and foremost, a new mission requires a new way of doing business. We must look closely at the many functions and responsibilities of the Department of Justice and realign our resources to support the critical tasks ahead -- all while continuing to enforce vigorously the laws of the United States.

To this end, below are a series of goals and management initiatives that reflect the changed priorities of the Department in this new environment. I have consulted closely with the Deputy Attorney General on the development of these goals. In addition, I have asked him to lead the effort, with the assistance of the Strategic Management Council (SMC), to develop and implement appropriate measures to accomplish these goals with all practicable timeliness. The goals are as follows:

GOAL 1: Develop Performance-Based, Mission-Focused Leadership

GOAL 2: Streamline, Eliminate or Consolidate Duplicative Functions

GOAL 3: Focus Resources on Front-Line Positions

GOAL 4: Reform the FBI

GOAL 5: Restructure the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)

GOAL 6: Restructure the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and Reform Grant Management

GOAL 7: Coordinate Internal and External Communications and Outreach

GOAL 8: Improve Department-Wide Financial Performance

GOAL 9: Strengthen Hiring, Training And Diversity Policies

GOAL 10: Utilize Technology to Improve Government

Our service men and women are risking their lives to battle the enemy overseas. It falls to the men and women of justice and law enforcement to lead America in fighting terrorism at home. By aligning our resources with the critical mission ahead, and by improving operational effectiveness and efficiency, the Department will help win the war against terrorism and protect the safety and liberty of all Americans.

Our mission is clear. As the President said, in this mission "we will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail." Thank you for your continued leadership, and for your hard work in accomplishing these critical goals.

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