By Audrey Hudson, Washington Times

Washington
,
Jul 15, 2009
 –
The Department of Homeland Security is preparing to restructure the color-coded terror alert system.

The task force is made up of Democrats and Republicans, elected officials at the state and local level, security experts, and law enforcement officials.

Co-chairing the task force are Fran Townsend, President George W. Bush’s homeland security assistant, and Judge William Webster, former CIA director under President Reagan and FBI director under President Carter.

Ms. Napolitano also appointed to the task force Randy Beardsworth, former assistant secretary for strategic plans at Homeland Security when the department was first created.

“It was a blunt instrument, and now it’s time to look at it and see what will serve us best today as the department has matured and technology has matured,” said Mr. Beardsworth, now a principal at Catalyst Partners.

“We’ve gotten smarter and the technology has gotten better over time,” Mr. Beardsworth said.

“It’s been a while since we even used it, and what Secretary Napolitano wants is for us to take a look and see what’s needed for the way we operate today,” Mr. Beardsworth said.

To read the full article, click here.