Terrorists are less likely to use chemical and biological weapons than conventional explosives, although the possibility that they may use chemical and biological materials may increase over the next decade, according to intelligence agencies. Since 1996, the number of Federal programs and initiatives to combat terrorism has grown significantly. The executive branch has taken some important steps toward improving the way it manages and coordinates the growing, complex array of agencies, offices, programs, activities, and capabilities. Under Presidential Decision Directive 39 (June 1995) Federal efforts to combat terrorism are organized along a lead agency concept. The Department of Justice, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is the lead Federal agency for crisis management of domestic terrorist incidents and for pursuing, arresting, and prosecuting the terrorists. For managing the consequences of domestic terrorist incidents, State and local authorities are primarily responsible. The United States foreign intelligence community, which includes the Central Intelligence Agency and others, monitors the foreign-origin terrorist threat to the U.S. There has been a proliferation of programs and initiatives across several agencies to provide training and/or equipment to local first responders for dealing with the consequences of a terrorist attack. However, there is a need for government-wide strategy with defined priorities and requirements based on valid assessments of the threat and risk of terrorist attack, and a comprehensive inventory of existing capabilities and assets. 1 table, 11 notes, and 1 appendix.