US President George W. Bush has proposed a new Cabinet agency to better coordinate intelligence, protect borders and prevent chemical, nuclear and biological attacks after his government's failure to stop the September 11th attacks.
Mr Bush proposed creating a single, overarching Department of Homeland Security drawing from eight existing Cabinet agencies and scores of other offices as the US Congress this week began hearings into intelligence failures before the attacks on New York and Washington in which about 3,000 people died.
The president planned a prime-time speech tonight to outline his proposals for the agency, which would require congressional approval.
Officials said the agency would focus on four areas: transport and border security; emergency preparedness and response; preventing chemical, biological and radiological attacks; and infrastructure protection and intelligence analysis.
The White House said its aim was to transform the "confusing patchwork" of more than 100 government agencies with some responsibility for homeland security into a single, effective and responsive agency.
US stock prices fell before Bush's speech, which the markets appeared to take as a sobering reminder that there may be future attacks on the United States and that additional US military actions are possible.