While the events of September 11, 2001 increased the awareness of biological threats to American agriculture and natural resources, programs have been in place for decades to minimize the risk posed by injurious pests. Intentional pest introductions may occur but the country faces daily risks, though managed, from the globalization of trade. The components of IPM play an important part of the safeguarding continuum in reducing the risk of pest introduction and establishment. Offshore pest mitigation and information are the first lines of defense. These mitigations include the sampling and treatments necessary to meet import requirements of agricultural products. Offshore pest information is used to effectively facilitate safe agricultural trade. The Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) branch of USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, in cooperation with The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, within the Department of Homeland Security, draws a line of additional inspection and deterrence at U.S. borders to further minimize the risks from introduction and establishment of invasive pests. Within the country, PPQ coordinates the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program to search for pests of regulatory significance within the states and territories. Further, PPQ works with state partners, such as the National Plant Diagnostic Network that identifies and report risk-posing plant pests. These programs help find infestations before they become wide spread. If regulated pests are found, the existing PPQ incident command system coordinates the delimitation and eradication programs to minimize long-term damage to American plant resources and ensure safe trade of American agricultural products.