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 |
| 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 |
| Employees | 240,000 (2018)[1] |
| Annual budget | $103.2 billion (FY 2024)[2] |
| Agency executives |
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| Child agency |
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| Key document |
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| 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.
- ^ a b "About DHS". Homeland Security. June 29, 2016.
- ^ "DHS FY 2024 Budget in Brief (BIB)" (PDF). Homeland Security. p. 4. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ "Our Mission". Homeland Security. June 27, 2012.
- ^ "Department of Homeland Security Executive Staffing Project". National Academy of Public Administration. Archived from the original on March 10, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2011.