Jane Lute discusses her experiences within the Obama administration as the deputy secretary of homeland security from 2009 to 2013. Lute focuses on developing the purpose and direction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as her work writing the first Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, getting a clean audit opinion, and creating guidance for grantmaking within the department. Sh e discusses the difference between national security and homeland security, and provides details about the tension between preventing terrorism and protecting civil liberties. Reflecting on the growing importance of cybersecurity, Lute outlines the threats of ransomware and cyber illiteracy, as well as her view that the National Security Agency should not be responsible for cybersecurity. Also discussed are the DHS suicide rate; the rescinded DHS report on right-wing extremism; the attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on December 25, 2009; the BP oil spill; and Lute's previous service in the U.S. Army, United Nations, and National Security Council staff
Presidents--United States; Terrorism--Prevention--United States; Civil rights--United States; Computer security--United States; Right-wing extremists--United States; Lute, Jane Holl, 1956-; Obama, Barack; United States. Department of Homeland Security
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
39 pages
Note (Biographical)
Jane Lute is a diplomat and security analyst serving as the United Nations (UN) special envoy on the Cyprus dispute, at the time of the interview. Lute joined the Obama administration as the deputy secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, whe re she worked from 2009 to 2013. Prior to that, Lute was the director of European affairs in the National Security Council in the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. She also served as assistant secretary general for peace building support in the UN, as well as a number of other roles within the UN and elsewhere
Note
Interviewed by Nicole R. Hemmer on May 11, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Jane Holl Lute, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023