Who Oversees The Department Of Homeland Security?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a US federal executive department responsible for public security, including anti-terrorism, border security, immigration and customs, and cybersecurity. The current secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is Kristi Noem, who was sworn in on 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 and 22 components, including TSA, Customs and Border Protection, CISA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and FEMA. The Office of the Secretary (OS) oversees the execution of the duties of the Department of Homeland Security and aids the Secretary of Homeland Security and senior officials in their duties.

Explore related products

The Wicked Problem of Information Sharing in Homeland Security: A Leadership Perspective

$12.95

Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security

$11.71 $35

Managing Cybersecurity Resources: A Cost-Benefit Analysis (The Mcgraw-Hill Homeland Security Series)

$44.84

McGraw-Hill Homeland Security Handbook: Strategic Guidance for a Coordinated Approach to Effective Security and Emergency Management, Second Edition

$91.44 $114.3

Beyond 9/11: Homeland Security for the Twenty-First Century (Belfer Center Studies in International Security)

$35 $35

The Homeland Security Leader Kristi Noem: Details on Her Early life as a Rancher, Major Policies, Values, and Her Rise to National Prominence

$16.99

The current Secretary of Homeland Security is Kristi Noem

Noem has had a notable political career before her appointment as Secretary of Homeland Security. She was born in Watertown, South Dakota, and served as a representative for the state in the US House of Representatives from 2007 to 2010. During her tenure, she sponsored several bills that became law, including property tax reforms and legislation to increase gun rights in South Dakota. She also served as an assistant majority leader and was active in various task forces and committees.

In March 2011, Noem announced the formation of a leadership political action committee, KRISTI PAC. She was among the top freshman Republicans in PAC fundraising, raising a significant amount in the first quarter of that year. Noem's role within the House Republican leadership was to push for cuts to federal government spending and assist in managing the expectations of new members. She was also a co-sponsor of legislation to federally ban abortion.

Noem's appointment as Secretary of Homeland Security brings her leadership and political experience to the forefront. She is tasked with managing a vast department and ensuring the safety and security of the nation across multiple domains. The position carries significant responsibility, and Noem's performance in this role will undoubtedly shape the country's security landscape.

The Department of Homeland Security is a federal executive department

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a federal executive department responsible for public security. It is roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. The department's stated missions involve anti-terrorism, border security, immigration and customs, cybersecurity, and disaster prevention and management.

The DHS is led by the Secretary of Homeland Security, who is in charge of the department's operations and oversees the execution of its duties. The current secretary of homeland security is Kristi Noem, who was sworn in on January 25, 2025. The secretary leads the third-largest department of the US government, with a workforce of around 240,000 to 260,000 employees and 22 components, including the TSA, Customs and Border Protection, CISA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service.

The DHS was established in response to the September 11 attacks, with the Homeland Security Act of 2002 creating the department as a stand-alone, Cabinet-level entity to coordinate and unify national homeland security efforts. The department officially began operations on March 1, 2003, and was formed through the combination of all or part of 22 different federal departments and agencies into a unified department. This included the merger of the US Customs Service and the INS (formerly part of the Department of Justice) into the Offices of Investigations, Intelligence, and International Affairs within US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The DHS is responsible for a wide range of security and enforcement functions, including the protection of US leaders, the enforcement of immigration laws, counterterrorism efforts, cybersecurity, and disaster response. The department also manages its own finance, accounting, budgeting, human resources, information technology systems, and other administrative functions. The DHS is the most diverse merger of federal functions and responsibilities, incorporating a wide range of agencies and offices with different roles and responsibilities related to homeland security.

The Department's work includes customs, border, and immigration enforcement

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is led by the Secretary of Homeland Security, a position currently held by Kristi Noem. The DHS's work includes customs, border, and immigration enforcement, which are all crucial to homeland security, economic prosperity, and national sovereignty.

Customs and border enforcement are primarily the responsibility of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. They work alongside U.S. Border Patrol agents, agriculture specialists, and Air and Marine Operations agents to secure America's borders. CBP implements transit marketing campaigns for law enforcement hiring and uses high-tech assets such as drones, manned aircraft, sensors, radar, and autonomous surveillance towers to increase capacity and effectiveness at the border.

DHS's border security efforts focus on preventing the illegal movement of weapons, drugs, contraband, and people, while promoting lawful trade and travel. They patrol more than 7,500 miles of land borders with Canada and Mexico and over 2,500 miles of coastal borders. In March 2023, DHS launched a coordinated surge effort to stop the flow of illicit fentanyl into the country, leading to 156 arrests and the seizure of thousands of pounds of drugs.

Immigration enforcement is handled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which works with state and local law enforcement agencies to keep communities safe. ICE assists in investigations, such as local sex crimes involving previously deported illegal aliens, and provides a platform for aliens in removal proceedings to complete necessary tasks, like updating their address and accessing court hearing details.

Explore related products

Homeland Security for the Private Sector: A Handbook (Advances in Public Planning)

$39.96 $49.95

Winning the National Security AI Competition: A Practical Guide for Government and Industry Leaders

$17.23 $59.99

Practical Aviation Security: Predicting and Preventing Future Threats (Butterworth-Heinemann Homeland Security)

$55.2 $79.95

Emergency Management and Tactical Response Operations: Bridging the Gap (Butterworth-Heinemann Homeland Security)

$54.71 $72.95

Terrorism and Homeland Security: An Introduction with Applications (Butterworth-Heinemann Homeland Security)

$51.34 $67.95

Homeland Security, Second Edition: A Complete Guide

$57.6 $81

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 created the Department

The creation of the DHS marked a significant shift in American thought towards threats, introducing the term "homeland" to center attention on the population that needs protection against emergencies and diffuse threats from non-native individuals. The department was formed through the consolidation of 22 different federal agencies, including the U.S. Customs Service and the INS, into a single Cabinet agency. This merger constituted the most diverse combination of federal functions and responsibilities, incorporating agencies with varying mandates.

The DHS is led by the Secretary of Homeland Security, who oversees the execution of the department's duties. The Secretary is responsible for managing a vast workforce of 260,000 employees and numerous components, including the TSA, Customs and Border Protection, CISA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FEMA, the Coast Guard, Secret Service, Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Science and Technology Directorate. The current secretary of homeland security is Kristi Noem, who assumed office on January 25, 2025.

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 also created exceptions to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (FVRA) by establishing an alternate process for the secretary to directly establish a line of succession outside the provisions of the FVRA. This allows for a smooth transition and continuity of leadership within the department.

The Department of Homeland Security is led by the Secretary of Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is led by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The current secretary of homeland security is Kristi Noem, who was sworn in on 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 and 22 components, including the TSA, Customs and Border Protection, CISA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, FEMA, the Coast Guard, Secret Service, Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Science and Technology Directorate.

The DHS is the US federal executive department responsible for public security and has missions involving anti-terrorism, border security, immigration and customs, cybersecurity, and disaster prevention and management. The department was formed in response to the September 11 attacks and began operations on March 1, 2003. The founding of the DHS marked a shift in American thought towards threats, with a focus on protecting the population against emergencies and threats from non-natives of the US.

The Office of the Secretary (OS) oversees the execution of the duties of the DHS. Certain elements within the OS aid the Secretary of Homeland Security and senior officials in their duties. The OS contains several offices and other elements of the DHS, with the heads of these elements reporting directly to the Secretary or Deputy Secretary. The Military Advisor and Executive Secretary, however, report to the DHS Chief of Staff, a position that is currently vacant.

The DHS incorporates 22 government agencies, including the US Customs Service and the INS, which combined to form the Offices of Investigations, Intelligence, and International Affairs within US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The department also includes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is responsible for protecting US transportation systems and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.

Frequently asked questions