Isabella Carter
The Secretary of Homeland Security is a senior position within the US government, tasked with leading the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is responsible for public security and safety. The current secretary is Kristi Noem, who was sworn in on January 25, 2025. The DHS is the third-largest department within the US government, with over 240,000 employees and 22 components, including the TSA, Customs and Border Protection, and the Coast Guard. The Secretary of Homeland Security is responsible for overseeing the execution of the DHS's duties, which include counterterrorism, cybersecurity, border security, and disaster prevention and management.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current US Secretary of Homeland Security | Kristi Noem |
| Date of appointment | January 25, 2025 |
| Department size | Third-largest in the US government, with 240,000-260,000 employees |
| Department components | TSA, Customs and Border Protection, CISA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, FEMA, the Coast Guard, Secret Service, Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Science and Technology Directorate |
| Department responsibilities | Counterterrorism, cybersecurity, aviation security, border security, port security, maritime security, administration and enforcement of immigration laws, protection of national leaders |
| Office components | Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA), Office of the Military Advisor, Office of Public Affairs (OPA), Office of Partnership and Engagement, Office of the Executive Secretary (ESEC), Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans |
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What You'll Learn
- The Secretary of Homeland Security leads the third-largest US government department
- The department's work includes customs, border, and immigration enforcement
- The Office of the Secretary contains several offices and other elements of the DHS
- The Secretary of Homeland Security is responsible for counterterrorism and cybersecurity
- The Secretary's office includes the Military Advisor and Executive Secretary
The Secretary of Homeland Security leads the third-largest US government department
The Office of the Secretary oversees the execution of the duties of the DHS and aids the Secretary of Homeland Security and senior officials in their duties. The Office of the Secretary contains several offices and other elements of the DHS, with the heads of most of these elements reporting directly to the Secretary. The Military Advisor and Executive Secretary, however, report to the DHS Chief of Staff, a position that is currently vacant.
The Office of the Secretary works to counter terrorism, enhance security, manage borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard cyberspace, build resilience to disasters, and provide support for national and economic security. The Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) serves as the primary liaison to members of Congress, the White House, and other federal agencies, while the Military Advisor provides counsel and support to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary in affairs relating to policy, procedures, and operations between the DHS and the Department of Defense. The Office of Partnership and Engagement coordinates the DHS's outreach efforts with key stakeholders, and the Office of Public Affairs coordinates the public affairs activities of the Department's components.
The Secretary of Homeland Security is currently Kristi Noem, who was sworn in on January 25, 2025, by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
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The department's work includes customs, border, and immigration enforcement
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for customs, border, and immigration enforcement, with the primary goal of protecting the United States from terrorist attacks and responding to emergencies. The department works to secure the nation's borders and facilitate legitimate trade and travel.
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The Office of the Secretary contains several offices and other elements of the DHS
The Office of the Secretary (OS) oversees the execution of the duties of the Department of Homeland Security. It contains several offices and elements that aid the Secretary of Homeland Security, senior officials of the Department of Homeland Security, and private and government partners in their duties. Most of the heads of these elements report directly to the Secretary or Deputy Secretary. However, the Military Advisor and Executive Secretary report to the DHS Chief of Staff, a position that is currently vacant.
The Office of the Secretary has several components, including the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA), which serves as the primary liaison to members of Congress, the White House, the Executive Branch, and other federal agencies and entities involved in national security. The Office of Partnership and Engagement coordinates the Department of Homeland Security's outreach efforts with key stakeholders across the nation, ensuring a unified approach to external engagement. The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) coordinates the public affairs activities of all the Department's components and offices and serves as the federal government's lead public affairs entity. The Office of the Executive Secretary (EOS) provides direct support to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary and offers related support to leadership and management across the Department. The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) works to improve the quality of citizenship and immigration services delivered to the public by providing individual case assistance, identifying systemic issues, and making recommendations to improve the administration of immigration benefits. The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman is a new and independent office that reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security. It assists individuals with complaints about the potential violation of immigration detention standards or other misconduct by DHS personnel. The Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans advises the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, develops policies, represents the DHS in interagency forums, and collects and maintains immigration data. The Office of Operations Coordination provides decision support and enables the Secretary's execution of responsibilities by promoting situational awareness, integrating and synchronizing strategic operations, and administering the DHS continuity program. The Office of the Military Advisor provides counsel and support to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary in affairs relating to policy, procedures, preparedness activities, and operations between DHS and the Department of Defense. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) provides legal and policy advice to Department leadership on civil rights and civil liberties issues, investigates and resolves complaints, and leads Equal Employment Opportunity Programs.
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The Secretary of Homeland Security is responsible for counterterrorism and cybersecurity
The Secretary of Homeland Security is responsible for leading the third-largest department of the US government, with a workforce of around 260,000 employees and 22 components, including the TSA, Customs and Border Protection, and the Coast Guard. The Secretary of Homeland Security is tasked with overseeing the execution of the duties of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which was formed in response to the September 11 attacks.
DHS is the federal executive department responsible for public security and has a stated mission of counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and disaster prevention and management. The Secretary of Homeland Security plays a crucial role in ensuring the department's effectiveness in these areas.
In terms of counterterrorism, the Secretary of Homeland Security works to counter and prevent terrorist attacks within the United States. This includes coordinating with various offices and partners, such as the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA), which liaises with Congress, the White House, and other federal agencies, to ensure a unified approach to national security. The Secretary also receives support from the Office of Operations Coordination, which promotes information sharing and strategic operations to enhance the Secretary's execution of responsibilities in homeland security. Additionally, the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans advises the Secretary and develops policies to unify and coordinate the department's efforts in counterterrorism.
Regarding cybersecurity, the Secretary of Homeland Security is responsible for safeguarding and securing cyberspace. This includes protecting .gov websites and ensuring the secure transmission of sensitive information. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, established within DHS, plays a key role in this area. The Secretary also receives support from the Office of the Executive Secretary, which provides direct support to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, ensuring the smooth and effective functioning of the department in its cybersecurity efforts.
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The Secretary's office includes the Military Advisor and Executive Secretary
The Secretary of Homeland Security leads the third-largest department of the US government, with a workforce of around 240,000-260,000 employees. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for public security, including counterterrorism, cybersecurity, aviation security, border security, port security, maritime security, and the administration and enforcement of immigration laws.
The Office of the Executive Secretary provides direct support to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, as well as related support to leadership and management across the Department. Its activities include the timely dissemination of information and written communications to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary from across the DHS and its homeland security partners.
The Secretary's office also includes the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA), which acts as the primary liaison to members of Congress, the White House, the Executive Branch, and other federal agencies involved in national security. The Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans advises the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, develops policies and represents the DHS in interagency forums. It also coordinates and unifies policy positions and leads international engagement and negotiations.
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Frequently asked questions
Kristi Noem, since January 25, 2025.
The Secretary of Homeland Security leads the third-largest department of the US government, with a workforce of around 240,000-260,000 employees. The department's work includes customs, border security, immigration enforcement, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and disaster prevention and management.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contains operational, support, and office components. Some of the offices within the DHS include the Office of the Secretary, Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA), Office of Public Affairs (OPA), Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, and the Office of the Executive Secretary.
The Office of the Secretary oversees the execution of the duties of the DHS and coordinates with various partners to counter terrorism, enhance security, manage borders, enforce immigration laws, and build resilience to disasters.
They can send mail to the following address:
The Honorable Kristi Noem
Secretary of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
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