United States Department of Homeland Security

United States Department of Homeland Security

Seal of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Flag of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Headquarters of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Washington D.C.
Agency overview
Formed	November 25, 2002 (2002-11-25)
Jurisdiction	U.S. federal government
Headquarters	St. Elizabeths West Campus, Washington, D.C., U.S. 38°51′17″N 77°00′00″W / 38.8547°N 77.0000°W / 38.8547; -77.0000
Employees	240,000 (2018)[1]
Annual budget	$103.2 billion (FY 2024)[2]
Agency executives	Kristi Noem, Secretary Troy Edgar, Deputy Secretary
Child agency	Full list United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Customs and Border Protection Federal Emergency Management Agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement Transportation Security Administration United States Coast Guard (during times of peace) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency United States Secret Service Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Federal Protective Service Citizenship & Immigration Services Ombudsmen Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Management Directorate Office for Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Office of General Counsel Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman Office of Intelligence & Analysis Office of Legislative Affairs Office of Situational Awareness Office of Partnership & Engagement Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans Office of Public Affairs Office of the Inspector General Privacy Office Science & Technology Directorate
Key document	Homeland Security Act of 2002
Website	dhs.gov
Agency ID	7000
"The DHS March"

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior, home, or public security ministries in other countries. Its missions involve anti-terrorism, civil defense, immigration and customs, border control, cybersecurity, transportation security, maritime security and sea rescue, and the mitigation of weapons of mass destruction.^[3]

It began operations on March 1, 2003, after being formed as a result of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, enacted in response to the September 11 attacks. With more than 240,000 employees,^[1] DHS is the third-largest Cabinet department, after the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.^[4] Homeland security policy is coordinated at the White House by the Homeland Security Council. Other agencies with significant homeland security responsibilities include the departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, and Energy.