Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office | Homeland Security (2024)

FAQs

What does the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office do? ›

DHS releases the CBRN AI Report

The DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) works to prevent attacks against the United States using a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) through timely, responsive support to operational partners.

Responses to chemical WMD

Antidotes for nerve agents include atropine, which works by blocking acetylcholine at the postsynaptic receptor sites, thus counteracting muscarinic effects. Because atropine does not affect nicotinic synapses, oximes such as pralidoxime are also given.

What is Counter-proliferation? Counter-proliferation generally refers to the principle of preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as well as the items and materials that can aid in their development.

NATO Allies work to prevent the proliferation of WMD by state and non-state actors through an active political agenda of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

A weapon of mass destruction is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological, or other device that is intended to harm a large number of people. The Department of Homeland Security works every day to prevent terrorists and other threat actors from using these weapons to harm Americans.

Describes the organizing principles: prevent, protect, and respond.

A weapon of mass destruction Civil Support Team (WMD-CST or CST) supports civil authorities in the event of the use, or threatened use, of a weapon of mass destruction. CSTs are federally funded units established under Presidential Decision Directive 39.

Modern weapons of mass destruction are either nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons—frequently referred to collectively as NBC weapons. See nuclear weapon, chemical warfare, biological warfare.

While nuclear, chemical and biological weapons are regarded as the three major types of WMDs, some analysts have argued that radiological materials as well as missile technology and delivery systems such as aircraft and ballistic missiles could be labeled as WMDs as well.

DTRA has the mission to safeguard America and its allies from WMD and provide capabilities to reduce, eliminate, and counter the threat and effects from chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives (CBRNE).

What is the difference between counter proliferation and non-proliferation? ›

In contrast to nonproliferation, which focuses on diplomatic, legal, and administrative measures to dissuade and impede the acquisition of such weapons, counterproliferation focuses on intelligence, law enforcement, and sometimes military action to prevent their acquisition.

A Global Effort

Today, there are 111 participating countries that endorse the PSI Statement of Interdiction Principles. These include committing to stopping the trafficking of WMD, delivery systems, and related materials, and enhancing relevant legal, diplomatic, financial, military, and law enforcement tools.

Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Responsibilities include: Developing policies and supporting the development of plans to enable defense against Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats and consequence management.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate (WMDD) is a division of the National Security Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. WMDD addresses and investigates emerging threats the United States faces from the use of weapons of mass destruction.

Any national of the United States who, without lawful authority, uses, or threatens, attempts, or conspires to use, a weapon of mass destruction outside of the United States shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, and if death results, shall be punished by death, or by imprisonment for any term of years ...

Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth. One can destroy a whole city, potentially killing millions, and jeopardizing the natural environment and lives of future generations through its long-term catastrophic effects. The dangers from such weapons arise from their very existence.

Analysis. The Tsar Bomba is the single most physically powerful device ever deployed on Earth, the most powerful nuclear bomb tested and the largest human-made explosion in history.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction (Control of Provision of Services) Ordinance prohibits the provision of services intended to assist the development, production, acquisition and stockpiling of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.