![Department of Homeland Security US Department of Homeland Security Symbol Ronald Reagan International Trade Building Washington DC.](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/2025-06/Homeland%20Security%20-%20Hero%2016x9.jpg?itok=S3g1yeBs) 

# Department of Homeland Security 

At a Glance 

Congress created the Department of Homeland Security in 2002 by combining 22 agencies, which are responsible for a vast array of activities. The largest agencies are Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Secret Service.

The department will spend $62 billion in 2019, or $490 for every U.S. household. After adjusting for inflation, spending has increased 340 percent since 2000. It employs 184,000 people.

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##### Blog Posts 

##### [Trump Is Right: End FEMA](/blog/trump-right-end-fema) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

##### [Secret Service Spending Soars](/blog/secret-service-spending-soars) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

##### [Governments Make Flooding Worse](/blog/governments-make-flooding-worse) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

### [Timeline: Department of Homeland Security](/downsizing-government-essay/department-homeland-security-timeline)

Explore a historical timeline of the Department of Homeland Security, outlining key reorganizations, security initiatives, and shifts in national policy.

[View Timeline](/downsizing-government-essay/department-homeland-security-timeline) 

##### Department of Homeland Security Spending 

[![Dept. of Homeland Security Static Graph](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/2025-10/HomelandSecurityOutlays.png?itok=C8mZjljQ)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG007) 

This chart was generated using our [interactive charting tool](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts#/selectedIDs=AG007), which visualizes data from the federal spending database released by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

#### Featured Content 

[![natural disaster](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2022-09/natural-disaster.jpg?itok=G676T5X6)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/federal-emergency-management-agency-floods-failures-federalism) 

Study 

### [The Federal Emergency Management Agency: Floods, Failures, and Federalism](/downsizing-government-essay/federal-emergency-management-agency-floods-failures-federalism) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

FEMA’s response to some major disasters has been slow, disorganized, and profligate.

[![Homeland Security TSA](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-10/GettyImages-2188213017.jpg?itok=y-5w1s5Z)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/privatizing-transportation-security-administration) 

Study 

### [Privatizing the Transportation Security Administration](/downsizing-government-essay/privatizing-transportation-security-administration) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

After more than a decade of experience, it is clear that the creation of TSA and the federal takeover of airport screening was a mistake.

[![homeland security DHS](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/content_teaser/public/2025-03/homeland%20security%20%20.jpg?itok=Qiw7LtIr)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government-essay/terminating-department-homeland-security) 

Study 

### [Terminating the Department of Homeland Security](/downsizing-government-essay/terminating-department-homeland-security) 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

The DHS structure adds unneeded bureaucracy and should be eliminated. DHS agencies that perform important work should be moved to other departments or structured as stand-alone federal entities.

[![Downsizing Government](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_mobile/public/2025-05/Downsizing%20Gov.png?itok=4YAi4cGI)](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government) 

##### About 

The federal government is running huge budget deficits, spending too much, and heading toward a financial crisis. Without a change of direction in Washington, average working families will be faced with large tax increases and a lower standard of living. This project is designed to help policymakers and the public understand where federal spending goes and how to reform each government department. It describes the failings of agencies and identifies specific programs to cut. It also discusses the systematic reasons why government programs are often obsolete, mismanaged, or otherwise dysfunctional.

Please contact Chris Edwards at [cedwards@​cato.​org](mailto:cedwards@cato.org) with questions or comments.

[Information on the data sources for our charts.](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government/charts?showAbout=true)