The Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council (GHSAC) met August 15-17, 2023, in Boise, Idaho, for its annual Summer Meeting. The GHSAC acts as a forum to bring together Governors’ homeland security advisors from states, commonwealths, territories, and the District of Columbia to inform and shape national homeland security policy, keep governors abreast of the current threat environment and the impacts of federal homeland security legislation, regulations, and policies, as well as share and promote best practices related to homeland security activities.
In addition to sharing state best practices, the GHSAC held discussions with U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, as well as other federal agencies including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and others from the Department of Homeland Security.
Topics discussed included the drug trafficking and transnational criminal organization threat environment, efforts to enhance school safety, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, and response and recovery to a variety of different disasters, including wildfires and train derailments.
Idaho Governor Brad Little provided remarks covering cybersecurity, wildfire response, and other homeland security issues.
The meeting included representatives from more than 35 states and territories.
