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Strategic Goal 2: Keep Our Country Safe

The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping the American people safe.  Our nation continues to face a multitude of serious and evolving threats, ranging from foreign terrorism to domestic terrorism and from cybercrime to violent crime.  These threats are as complex as at any time in our history.  And the consequences of not responding to them have never been greater.  Every person living in the United States deserves to feel safe in their communities.  The Justice Department will support law enforcement at all levels as we work to protect our country from these threats, while also zealously guarding civil liberties and ensuring our own accountability to the American people.

Agency Priority Goal: Reduce Gun-Related Violent Crime
Violent crime involving guns impacts individual safety and negatively affects communities.  To enhance public safety and keep our communities safe, the Department will focus enforcement efforts on reducing the incidence of guns used to commit violent crime as well as solving more gun-related violent crimes.  By September 30, 2023, the Department will enhance its efforts to reduce gun violence by: (1) increasing the percentage of urgent firearm trace requests completed within 48 hours to 95% from a 2021 baseline of 83%; (2) increasing the percentage of firearms cases that target traffickers or other large-scale enterprises to 39% from a 2021 baseline of 29%; and (3) increasing the number of inspections of federal firearms licensees to 7,410 from a 2021 baseline of 6,721.

Agency Priority Goal: Combat Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware attacks cause financial losses and other harms to targeted governments, critical infrastructure, and industries.  By September 30, 2023, the Department will enhance its efforts to combat ransomware attacks by: (1) increasing the percentage of reported ransomware incidents from which cases are opened, added to existing cases, or resolved or investigative actions are conducted within 72 hours to 65%; and (2) increasing the number of ransomware matters in which seizures or forfeitures are occurring by 10%.

 Enterprise Risks

  • Impact of technology
  • Fragmentation and globalization of threats
  • Emergence of new security vulnerabilities
  • Data collection and analysis limitations
  • Coordination challenges
  • Market competition for specialized expertise
  • Building trust
  • Changes in the legal landscape
  • Changing demographics (including aging populations)
  • External drivers of crime

Learning Agenda