FACACLASSIC

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Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DHS - 20330 - Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee	Agency Name	Department of Homeland Security
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	20330
Original Establishment Date	11/25/2002	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	3/7/2025	Committee URL	http://www.dhs.gov/hsstac
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	40
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	DFO
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	MR
Current Charter Date	4/11/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Stan
Date Of Renewal Charter	4/11/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date	3/7/2025	Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Cunningham
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	Secretary Directive - Elimination of Federal Advisory Committees Within the Department of Homeland Security	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 254-2311
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	202-280-9431
Specific Establishment Authority*	6 U.S.C. section 451	Designated Federal Officer Email*	stanley.cunningham@hq.dhs.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	11/15/2021
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	National Policy Issue Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Terminate
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The HSSTAC provides independent, consensus scientific and technical advice and recommendations to the Under Secretary for Science and Technology who leads the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). Its activities focus on the S&T mission to strengthen America’s security and resiliency by providing knowledge products and innovative technology solutions for the Homeland Security Enterprise. The committee addresses science and technology needs and trends, management processes and organizational constructs, and other matters of special interest to the Under Secretary for S&T and will ensure the identification of new technologies in those areas that strengthen homeland security. It will support the priority needs of DHS S&T's Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency and First Responders Group. Upon request, the committee will provide scientifically- and technically-based advice to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.
How is membership balanced?*	To ensure both stimulating and pragmatic opinions, the committee includes public and private sector perspectives from industry, academe and government (including former members of Federal Government or former or current members of state or local government who can provide the perspective of government implementation of any recommendations). Members are eminent authorities in the fields of science and technology relevant to the homeland security enterprise, acquisition processes, first responder needs, strategy and management of research development organizations, government-industry partnerships, and operational experience in a homeland security context. To ensure both broad and deep expertise, membership will represent both technical expertise and management or operational experience. The technical experts will include research scholars who have published in peer-reviewed journals.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Committee meetings are held four times per year or at the request of the chair and the approval of the DFO. The committee meeting agenda topics are in direct support of the strategic and tactical priorities of the Science and Technology Directorate. Based on input requested from the Under Secretary and senior leaders, the meetings are used to solicit active discussions and feedback on select mission areas.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	In the world of science, we rely on external perspectives and new research to stay in touch with both cutting edge and state-of-the-art solutions. This group of experts will help us to avoid stale outdated thinking. The committee permits S&T to, be presented with newly evolving innovative research, real world deployment considerations and risk mitigation strategies by trusted advisors. Because members are working in private sector, academia and local governments, their access to cutting edge solutions, best practices and international advances expand the lens through which we view solutions and challenges us to be more aware of leading technologies, financing, management practices and solution development strategies. The members help us address both known and emerging threats more fully and coherently. The committee gives us ready access to other experts when needed through extensions to their rich network of colleagues who can bring additional expertise to bear on a particular topic. The expertise and broader context that this committee provides is not available within S&T or DHS as a whole, and there are no existing committees that provide or could provide the assistance that the HSSTAC provides.
Why close or partially close meetings?	It is necessary to close and/or partially close committee meetings when they concern classified information, sensitive law enforcement information, Homeland Security sensitive information, and/or any other topic area related to national defense. Meetings will only be closed in accordance with 5 U.S.C. Sec 552b, the Government in the Sunshine Act.
Recommendation Remarks	Per Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary has determined that the Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee is terminated.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Not Applicable	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	Not Applicable	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	48	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The committee did not meet in FY24. Recommendations were gathered and acted upon from previous years' work. Selection of new members was delayed due to the pending national election cycle and the potential change in senior leadership guidance and focus for the committee. The committee will solicit for new members in FY25 and re-commence meetings after the new members are in place.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	50.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Not Applicable	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	45.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Not Applicable	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	http://www.dhs.gov/st-hsstac
Agency Feedback Comment*	The Under Secretary provides verbal feedback to members at meetings and informally to the committee chairman. The federal staff for the committee also provides feedback at meetings.	Narrative Description*	This committee supports the DHS S&T Mission to “strengthen America’s security and resiliency by providing knowledge products and innovative technology solutions for the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE),” with its specific emphasis on members who have expertise with technology innovations and knowledge products, and who have experience applying them to the HSE. More specifically, this committee addresses DHS S&T’s five goals, as follows: (1)“Screening at Speed: Security that Matches the Pace of Life” Noninvasive screening at speed will provide for comprehensive threat protection while adapting security to the pace of life rather than life to security. In this area the committee will help strengthen DHS security practices; (2)” Trusted Cyber Future: Protecting Privacy, Commerce, and Community” In a future of increasing cyber connections, underlying digital infrastructure will be self-detecting, self-protecting, and self-healing. Users will trust that information is protected, illegal use is deterred, and privacy is not compromised. Security will operate seamlessly in the background. In this area, committee members will ensure the latest technology in cyber security is being used; (3) “Enable the Decision Maker: Actionable Information at the Speed of Thought” Predictive analytics, risk analysis, and modeling and simulation systems will enable critical and proactive decisions to be made based on the most relevant information, transforming data into actionable information. In this area, the committee will help increase awareness of cutting-edge research and developments by virtue of its role as expert external advisors, selected specifically for their knowledge in these areas; (4) “Responder of the Future: Protected, Connected, and Fully Aware” The responder of the future is threat-adaptive and cross-functional. In this area, the committee members will provide subject matter expertise on the needs of the responder of the future. (5) “Resilient Communities: Disaster-Proofing Society” Critical infrastructure of the future will be designed, built, and maintained to withstand naturally occurring and man-made disasters. Decision makers will know when a disaster is coming, anticipate the effects, and use already-in-place or rapidly deployed countermeasures to shield communities from negative consequences. Resilient communities struck by disasters will not only bounce back, but bounce forward. In this area, the committee members will help ensure constructive use of federal facilities and of resources within academia through their own networks and by specifically addressing the need to leverage other’s technology.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/12/2025 12:43 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Applied Science Applied Sciences Basic Science Basic Sciences Emergency Emergency Preparedness and Management Science and Technology Innovation Science and Technology Social Sciences Social Sciences

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