It's highly unlikely that the United States will experience a crippling "digital Pearl Harbor," the CIO of homeland security says. "While this is a possibility, the probability is relatively low," Steven Cooper said in an online chat sponsored by The Washington Post. "We have done a lot in the federal arena to provide multilayered security for our digital environments and continually 'red team' our networks and applications to find vulnerabilities."

The government spends millions of dollars on technology to safeguard IT, and Cooper said he isn't overly concerned about individuals who might compromise the government's IT infrastructure. "I would agree that it is always a risk," Cooper said. "However, all personnel working in the department, including contractors, must pass a security clearance and additional reviews and background checks, depending on level of clearance. While not perfect, we are comfortable we have an adequate level of precaution and review regarding our people."

Responding to a comment that homeland security appears as "one giant organizational mess" because of major cutbacks in airport security--which months earlier the government deemed important--and the fuss over duct tape and plastic to safeguard against chemical attacks, Cooper said the department is on the right track. "My 16-year-old daughter shares your concern and advices me on this every day," he said.

Cooper contends that the nation is safer than it was a year ago, noting that no terrorist incident has occurred in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001, and that a number of al-Qaida operatives and other terrorists have been arrested. "We are doing a great many things right and the country, you, and your family are safer that a year ago," he said. "Having said that, we are also acutely aware that we have more to do. We're not letting red tape get in the way of the things we must do quickly to make us all safer. We are addressing chemical and bioterrorism and have increased our detection capability across the country and at points of entry."

The CIO addressed a number of other matters:

• Among his top priorities for the department: complete its enterprise (news - web sites) architecture and road map, a first version of which should be available by September