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United States Department of Homeland Security
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<p>The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. <a href="/facts/United_States_federal_executive_departments/qMKY8RGz">federal executive department</a> responsible for <a href="/facts/Public_security/qrjPmFHH">public security</a>, roughly comparable to the <a href="/facts/Interior_minister/avUIRDbE">interior</a>, <a href="/facts/Home_Secretary/nSYzwvRz">home</a>, or <a href="/facts/Ministry_of_Public_Security_(disambiguation)/muTGeKSQ">public security ministries</a> in other countries. Its missions involve <a href="/facts/Anti-terrorism/XSzTcfND">anti-terrorism</a>, <a href="/facts/Border_security/ngScQKAz">civil defense</a>, <a href="/facts/Immigration_to_the_United_States/KT75X7Uc">immigration</a> and <a href="/facts/Customs/dLBa0dlN">customs</a>, <a href="/facts/Border_security/ngScQKAz">border control</a>, <a href="/facts/Cyber_security/7E5dIy7G">cybersecurity</a>, <a href="/facts/Airport_security/drWkCyBv">transportation security</a>, <a href="/facts/Maritime_security_(USCG)/ho9Hc8lL">maritime security</a> and <a href="/facts/Air-sea_rescue/y2Y7c2Ef">sea rescue</a>, and the mitigation of <a href="/facts/Weapon_of_mass_destruction/JfsDSeGo">weapons of mass destruction</a>. </p><p>It began operations on March 1, 2003, after being formed as a result of the <a href="/facts/Homeland_Security_Act_of_2002/uTjYkXut">Homeland Security Act of 2002</a>, enacted in response to the <a href="/facts/September_11_attacks/PfWQcQNx">September 11 attacks</a>. With more than 240,000 employees, DHS is the third-largest <a href="/facts/Cabinet_of_the_United_States/2ouVJrjQ">Cabinet</a> department, after the departments of <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Defense/dWAvf7e3">Defense</a> and <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Veterans_Affairs/oIxJ2vDE">Veterans Affairs</a>. <a href="/facts/Homeland_security/Uz6ITRXM">Homeland security</a> policy is coordinated at the <a href="/facts/White_House/CJQc7dKF">White House</a> by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Homeland_Security_Council/6hCtr7sC">Homeland Security Council</a>. Other agencies with significant homeland security responsibilities include the departments of <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Health_and_Human_Services/eS90vYmd">Health and Human Services</a>, <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Justice/2SuTuevo">Justice</a>, and <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Energy/PRp6Cz8g">Energy</a>. </p>