The flight was canceled because we were unable to obtain the necessary security clearances from the Department of Homeland Security and their international counterparts.

We weren't able to obtain the necessary security clearance from the Department of Homeland Security.

I have a feeling that makes me very uneasy that the Department of Homeland Security is dysfunctional,

The Homeland Security department doesn't have tasking authority in the intelligence community. They can ask for stuff, but they can't direct anything except inside their bureau.

Michael Chertoff and the Department of Homeland Security, they have the primary responsibility of ensuring that our ports are secure.

These results are worrying. Either the Department of Homeland Security is not doing enough to inform Americans on how to prepare in the event of a terrorist attack, or they are offering advice most Americans do not feel is useful.