The Washington Post reports on the state of the Homeland Security Agency, calling it Government's Hobbled Giant :

Six months after it was established to protect the nation from terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security is hobbled by money woes, disorganization, turf battles and unsteady support from the White House, and has made only halting progress toward its goals, according to administration officials and independent experts.

Not only have the two highest-ranking officials under Tom Ridge resigned, but 15 others refused requests to apply for their jobs.

The agency was created in March. It combined 22 federal agencies with 170.000 employees.

Efforts to organize the government's 10 or so disparate lists of potential terrorism suspects, secure airline cargo against terrorist plots and advise local police and firefighters on training and equipment have all foundered, the officials said.

"Not a lot is getting done at the top of the department, and nobody's making them focus on it," said a White House official who handles homeland security issues and who asked not to be identified. "Nobody's got the fortitude to say, 'Sit down and shut up.' . . . It's sad."

Very sad.