The DHS Science and Technology Directorate was established by Congress to be the primary research and development arm of the Department of Homeland Security. In this role, S&T manages science and technology research and provides acquisition support for the Department's operational components. It works with partners to do basic research and provide technology solutions to first responders. It is no secret that the Science and Technology Directorate has had its challenges since its creation. But despite several restructuring and close Congressional oversight, the S&T Directorate continues to face difficulties in fulfilling its mission. Problems with priority setting and strategic planning for the directorate's R&D programs, as well as balancing incremental efforts with high-risk, high-reward research remain a challenge. In addition, there continues to be challenges with working with the operational components in both research and acquisition support activities.