CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: With the Homeland Security Department now a reality, the focus shifts to getting the agency in action as soon as possible. CNN's Jeanne Meserve looks at how that will be done.</s>JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The president sent his plan for the reorganization to Congress Monday, 60 days ahead of schedule. Tom Ridge will take office January 24 and most of the merger should be completed by March 1. It is an aggressive timeline, one that reflects the urgency the administration feels about improving homeland security. Ridge says he'll do what he has to, including knocking heads together, to make sure the mission is accomplished.</s>TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR: Time is of the essence. We have to be agile, we have to be nimble, we have to be organized as quickly as we possibly can and at the end of the day, the first mission, the first priority is security, and if you can't get it done in the manner, shape or form that it needs to be done, by persuasion, then there's other -- you call it head knocking, whatever it is, this is critical to the defense of this country and I'm convinced we can get it done.</s>MESERVE: Ridge says he hopes to see some tangible results right off the bat, but acknowledges this will be a long and difficult process. One question has been whether his new department, which is charged with analyzing intelligence and protecting infrastructure, will get the cooperation in information it needs from the FBI, CIA and other agencies. Ridge says it will, because the law requires it and the president wants it. Asked why he took on this daunting task, Ridge says because the president asked. He has no doubt he has the skills and clout to get the job done, but acknowledges the country will never be 100 percent secure from terrorism -- back to you. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com Action as Soon as Possible>
Focus Shifts to Getting Homeland Security Department in Action as Soon as Possible