A US Department of Transportation agency, the FAA regulates flight inspection standards and air transportation and facility safety. After the events of 9/11, the FAA required more stringent safety and security standards in multiple areas.

During the WTC attacks, most first responders were FDNY members. Of the roughly 3,000 people killed in the events of 9/11, 343 were FDNY firefighters, 15 of whom were from the station closest to the WTC.

Based in the city of Rome, New York, NEADS is part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) agency. In response to the 9/11 attacks, NEADS launched military jets over Washington, DC.