March 18, 2003
Changing of the Guard
GW Hosts Transfer of Treasury’s Law Enforcement
Agencies to Homeland Security and Justice
By Greg
Licamele
GW played host to history as the US Treasury Department symbolically
transferred its law enforcement agencies to the Department of Homeland
Security and the Department of Justice on Feb. 25.
The US Customs Service, US Secret Service, and the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center officially joined other government agencies March 1
to form the new Department of Homeland Security. The Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) now has joined the Justice Department,
while a portion of the ATF remains with Treasury.
“In the transition we observe today, from Treasury Enforcement
to Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, the American people
and our president are relying on you, the most experienced law enforcement
experts in the government,” said John Snow, treasury secretary
and GW graduate.
In a ceremony marked with pomp and circumstance, recognition and reflection
at GW’s Lisner Auditorium, Snow said the opportunity to be present
at the creation of a new tradition is a rare opportunity.
“The treasury flags I hand you symbolize the transfer of these
bureaus, which have been such a storied part of the department’s
long history,” Snow said. “The finest law enforcement people
in the land are now in your keep.”
“Their history will not be lost on us, because there are lessons
we can draw from it and apply to the new department,” said Tom
Ridge, secretary of homeland security.
Approximately 175,000 people from 22 government agencies will constitute
the new department, which was created Nov. 25, 2002.
“We need to work out and resolve some of the predictable, unavoidable
challenges associated with merging 175,000 people into one new department,
but we’ll get it done,” Ridge said. “And the reason we’ll
get it done is because, at the end of the day, everybody knows that
the decisions they make on a day-to-day basis close the gaps and make
us safer and more secure against potential terrorist activity.”
GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, who welcomed the cabinet secretaries,
Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson, various bureau heads, and members
of the Treasury law enforcement community, said, “In these deeply
unsettled times, your willingness to serve is more important than ever.
I thank you on behalf of the University. I thank you on behalf of my
fellow citizens.”
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
