ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the capabilities and limitations of the primary military and civilian response units that would form a federal response to a chemical agent attack. Within the Department of Defense, the primary response organization is known as the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) Response Enterprise. The United States has a large number of organizations that are capable of supporting a CBRN response. By examining the numerous assets and capabilities provided by the agencies, researchers in the field of homeland security can better understand the broad spectrum of responders from the local level to the federal level. The National Response Framework is a guide to how the United States will conduct all-hazards response. The Department of Homeland Security was established on November 25, 2002 in response to the attacks on September 11, 2001 and marked the most comprehensive government reorganization since the Cold War.
