Launching the biggest federal reorganization in more than 50 years, President Bush has signed into law a bill that establishes a Cabinet department to coordinate the government's homeland security efforts. He also announced he would nominate Tom Ridge, the current White House Homeland Security Advisor, to be the new department's secretary.

In signing the legislation on Nov. 25, Bush said the measure "takes the next critical steps in defending our country. The continuing threat of terrorism, the threat of mass murder on our own soil will be met with a unified, effective response."