United States Secretary of Homeland Security

The United States Secretary of Homeland Security is the head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the federal department tasked with ensuring public safety in the United States. The secretary is a member of the Cabinet of the United States. The position was created by the Homeland Security Act following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The new department consisted primarily of components transferred from other Cabinet departments because of their role in homeland security, such as the Coast Guard, the Federal Protective Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (which includes the United States Border Patrol), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (which includes Homeland Security Investigations), the United States Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The current secretary of homeland security is Kristi Noem, since January 25, 2025.

Order of succession

While appointment of acting officials is generally governed by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (FVRA), the Homeland Security Act of 2002 creates exceptions to FVRA, mandating that the under secretary of homeland security for management is third in the line of succession for Secretary of Homeland Security, and establishes an alternate process by which the secretary can directly establish a line of succession outside the provisions of the FVRA.

As of November 8, 2019, the order of succession is as follows. However, the legality of this update was challenged.

1. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
2. Under Secretary for Management
3. Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
4. Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans
5. Administrator and Assistant Secretary of the Transportation Security Administration
6. Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Formerly, an April 10, 2019 update to the DHS Orders of Succession, made pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, provided a different order in the case of unavailability to act during a disaster or catastrophic emergency:

1. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
2. Under Secretary for Management
3. Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
4. Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
5. Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
6. Under Secretary for Science and Technology
7. Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis
8. Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
9. Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
10. Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
11. Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans
12. General Counsel
13. Deputy Under Secretary for Management
14. Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
15. Deputy Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
16. Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
17. Deputy Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
18. Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers

As a result of Executive Order 13753 in 2016, the order of succession for the secretary of homeland security was as follows:

1. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
2. Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management
3. Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
4. Under Secretary of Homeland Security for National Protection and Programs
5. Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology
6. Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis
7. Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
8. Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
9. Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
10. Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
11. Assistant Secretary for Policy
12. General Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security
13. Deputy Under Secretary for Management
14. Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
15. Deputy Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
16. Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
17. Deputy Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
18. Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security

Purpose

The Office of the Secretary (OS) oversees the execution of the duties of the Department of Homeland Security. Certain elements also aid the Secretary of Homeland Security and senior officials of the Department of Homeland Security, as well as private sector and government partners in their duties.

Composition

The Office of the Secretary contains several offices and other elements of the DHS. Most of the heads of these elements report directly to the Secretary or Deputy Secretary, but the Military Advisor and Executive Secretary report to the DHS Chief of Staff, who is currently Jonathan Davidson.

Components of the Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security

Component	Mission	Executives	Subordinate Components
Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL)	Supports the Department's mission to secure the nation while preserving individual liberty, fairness, and equality under the law. Builds in civil rights and civil liberties practices into all of the Department’s activities.	Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia Deputy Officer for Programs & Compliance: Peter Mina Deputy Officer for EEO and Diversity: Veronica Venture	Programs and Compliance Division Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Division Office for Accessible Systems and Technology (jointly run with DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer)
Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CISOMB)	Serves as a liaison between the public and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Helps individuals and employers resolve issues they are having with USCIS. Holds engagements to hear from the public about their experiences with USCIS. Identifies issues in the immigration system and make recommendations to USCIS on how to address these problems.	CIS Ombudsman: Nathan Stiefel (acting) Deputy Ombudsman: Nathan Stiefel	Policy Division Public Engagement Division Casework Division Operations Division Strategy Division
Climate Change Action Group	Drives urgent action to address the climate crisis. Analyzes, on an ongoing basis, the impacts of climate change on DHS missions, assets, and personnel. Adapts DHS operations, assets, and missions to account for the climate crisis via risk- based strategies. Coordinates DHS-wide sustainability operations to mitigate additional harm. Recommends specific, concrete steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Recommends specific, concrete steps to promote resilience and adaptation to reduce the multiple risks posed by the climate crisis. Recommends organizational and resource realignments as necessary to support the Department’s activities to address the climate crisis.	Co-Chairs: Cass Sunstein & Robert P. Silvers
Office of the Executive Secretary (ESEC)	Provides all manner of direct support to the Secretary of Homeland Security and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, as well as related support to leadership and management across the DHS. Accurate and timely dissemination of information and written communications.	Executive Secretary: Kimberly O'Connor
Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO)	Assists individuals with complaints about the potential violation of immigration detention standards or other misconduct by DHS (or contract) personnel. Provides oversight of immigration detention facilities.	ID Ombudsman: David Gersten (acting) ID Deputy Ombudsman: N/A	Case Management Division Detention Oversight Division Policy and Standards Division External Relations Division Operations and Resource Management Division Program Integration Division
Family Reunification Task Force	Committed to the safe reunification of families that were unjustly separated at the U.S.-Mexico border.	Chair: Alejandro Mayorkas Executive Director: Michelle Brané	Includes the secretaries of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and State, as well as the Attorney General. It also includes several other officials from the DHS, DOJ, HHS, and State Department.
Office of the General Counsel (OGC)	Provides complete, accurate, and timely legal advice on possible courses of action for the DHS. Ensures that homeland security policies are implemented lawfully, quickly, and efficiently. Protects the rights and liberties of any Americans who come in contact with the Department of Homeland Security. Facilitates quick responses to congressional requests for information. Represents the department in venues across the country, including in U.S. immigration courts. The OGC accomplishes these tasks with over 3,000 attorneys.	General Counsel: Jonathan Meyer Deputy General Counsel: Joseph B. Maher CBP Chief Counsel: Frederick B. Smith CISA Chief Counsel: Spencer Fisher USCIS Chief Counsel: A. Ashley Tabaddor USCG Judge Advocate General: Melissa Bert FEMA Chief Counsel: Adrian Sevier FLETC Chief Counsel: Trisha Besselman (acting) ICE Principal Legal Advisor: Kerry Doyle USSS Chief Counsel: Thomas F. Huse TSA Chief Counsel: Francine Kerner	Ethics & Compliance Law Division General Law Division Immigration Law Division Intelligence Law Division Legal Counsel Division Operations and Enforcement Law Division Regulatory Affairs Law Division Technology Programs Law Division
Joint Requirements Council (JRC)	Validates capability gaps. Associated with operational requirements and proposed solution approaches to mitigate those gaps through the Joint Requirements Integration and Management System (JRIMS). Leverages opportunities for commonality to enhance operational effectiveness directly and better inform the DHS’ main investment pillars.	Executive Director: Joseph D. Wawro	The JRC consists of the Principals Council – the operational Components (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), I&A, Management, CIO, Policy, and S&T.
Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA)	Serves as primary liaison to members of Congress and their staffs, the White House and Executive Branch, and to other federal agencies and governmental entities that have roles in assuring national security	Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs: Zephranie Buetow Deputy Assistant Secretary (Senate): Bryn McDonough Deputy Assistant Secretary (House of Representatives): Alexandra Carnes	Each area of responsibility is managed by a director. There's a DAS for the U.S. Senate, a DAS for the U.S. House of Representatives, and a Chief of Staff. Headquarters Operational Component Coordination Intelligence, Cyber, and Operations Oversight and Investigations Executive Secretary and Mission Support
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 U.S. Department of Defense.	Military Advisor to the Secretary: Rear Admiral Michael Platt
Office of Partnership and Engagement (OPE)	Coordinates the Department of Homeland Security’s outreach efforts with key stakeholders nationwide. Ensures a unified approach to external engagement amongst the DHS.	Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement: Brenda F. Abdelall Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary: Rebecca Sternhell Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs: › miriam-enriquez-26176910b Miriam Enriquez Deputy Assistant Secretary, Private Sector Office: Jamie Lawrence	Office of Intergovernmental Affairs State and Local Affairs Tribal Government Affairs Private Sector Office Office of Academic Engagement Faith-Based Security Advisory Council Committee Management Office Homeland Security Advisory Council Office of Social Impact and Campaigns Director, Non-Governmental Organizations
Privacy Office	Protects individuals by embedding and enforcing privacy protections and transparency in all DHS activities.	Chief Privacy Officer: Mason C. Clutter (concurrently serves as the DHS Chief Freedom of Information Officer)	Senior Policy Advisor and Executive Director, Strategy and Integration Deputy Chief FOIA Officer Senior Director, FOIA Operations and Management Director of Disclosure Senior Director, Litigation, Appeals, and Policy Director, Policy, Oversight, Compliance Deputy Chief Privacy Officer Senior Director, Privacy Compliance Director, Privacy Compliance Senior Director, Privacy Policy and Oversight Director, Privacy Policy Director, Privacy Incidents Director, Privacy Oversight Chief of Staff Director, Business Operations Director, Communications & Training
Office of Public Affairs (OPA)	Coordinates the public affairs activities of all of the components and offices of the DHS. Serves as the federal government’s lead public information office during a national emergency or disaster.	Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs: Daniel Watson Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications: Luis Miranda Deputy Assistant Secretary for Media Relations: Sarah Schakow Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications: Jeff Solnet	DHS Press Office Incident and Strategic Communications Multimedia Speechwriting Web Communications Internal Communications
Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (OSP&P)	Serves as a central resource to the Secretary and other department leaders for strategic planning and analysis, and facilitation of decision-making on the full breadth of issues that may arise across the dynamic homeland security enterprise	Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans: Robert Silvers Deputy Under Secretary: Kelli Ann Burriesci	Chief of Staff Assistant Secretary for Border and Immigration Policy Deputy Assistant Secretary, Border and Immigration Deputy Assistant Secretary, Immigration Statistics Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention Deputy Assistant Secretary, Screening and Vetting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Law Enforcement Deputy Assistant Secretary, Countering Transnational Organized Crime Deputy Assistant Secretary, Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary, Western Hemisphere Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security Deputy Assistant Secretary, Trade Policy Deputy Assistant Secretary, Economic Security Assistant Secretary for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk, and Resilience Deputy Assistant Secretary, Cyber Policy Deputy Assistant Secretary, Infrastructure, Risk, and Resilience Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Integration and Policy Planning
Office for State and Local Law Enforcement (OSLLE)	Provides DHS with primary coordination, liaison, and advocacy for state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus (SLTTC) law enforcement.	Assistant Secretary for State and Local Law Enforcement: Heather Fong Deputy Assistant Secretary: N/A