Which federal department's mission includes preventing terrorism and ensuring resilience?

• A. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• B. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• C. Federal Emergency Management Agency
• D. Department of Defense

Answer: (B)

Understanding which federal department handles protecting the homeland from threats and building the ability to recover after incidents is key. The Department of Homeland Security is centered on preventing terrorist attacks, protecting infrastructure, and ensuring resilience—the capacity to anticipate, withstand, adapt to, and rapidly recover from adverse events. This combination of stopping threats and maintaining the nation’s ability to function after disruptions is the defining part of its mission.

Other agencies focus on different areas. For example, public health agencies concentrate on preventing disease and protecting health, not on national security and resilience of all sectors. FEMA, while essential for disaster response and recovery, is primarily concerned with emergencies and rebuilding after events, rather than the broad homeland-security mission itself. The Department of Defense handles military defense and national security in a broader sense, not specifically the civilian-oriented mission of preventing terrorism and ensuring resilience at home.