Government

What does the do?

Updates published annually

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for protecting the United States against potential threats. Its primary functions include anti-terrorism efforts, border security, immigration and customs enforcement, cybersecurity, and disaster prevention and management. It was established in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and began operations in 2003.

In FY 2024,

$89.3B

was spent by the Department of Homeland Security
In FY 2024,

1.3%

of federal spending was by the Department of Homeland Security

How much does the Department of Homeland Security spend?

The Department of Homeland Security spent $89.3 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 1.3% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 10th among federal agencies in total spending.

The Department of Homeland Security accounted for 1.3% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of DHS net spending compared to the top ten highest spending agencies in FY 2024

Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Department of Homeland Security’s federal spending has increased from $54.4 billion in 2003 to $89.3 billion in 2024.

The Department of Homeland Security’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 2003.

Yearly federal net spending by DHS, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 2003–2024

Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security's spending has increased 64.1%, while overall spending has increased 83.3%.
The department’s spending grew less than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, DHS accounted for 1.3% of all federal spending. That’s 0.092 percentage points higher than 2014 and 0.2 percentage points lower than in 2003.
Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Department of Homeland Security’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 2003.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to DHS, FYs 2003–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.
In FY 2024, the Department of Homeland Security transferred 29.2% of its total spending to states and local governments.
The chart below outlines all DHS spending.

How did the Department of Homeland Security spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to DHS, FY 2024

Federal agencies often contain divisions including bureaus, offices, and subagencies. In FY 2024, the Department of Homeland Security divisions with the highest expenditures were the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Customs and Border Protection, and the Coast Guard.

The Department of Homeland Security's highest-spending division is the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

DHS net spending by division, FY 2024

Read related content about the Department of Homeland Security:

  • What ICE does: Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, aims to preserve American safety by detaining, deporting, and sometimes, convicting unauthorized immigrants.
  • How many people the US deports: 1.1M in 2023. The Department of Homeland Security defines deportation as the removal or return of a noncitizen from the United States. However, a broader term can be used, “repatriation”, which also includes COVID-19 related expulsions from the US.

How many people work for the Department of Homeland Security?

Some 228,000 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Department of Homeland Security as of September 2024. This is 20.4% more people than the department staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Department of Homeland Security has increased 20.4% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for DHS, September 2010–2024

DHS accounts for 9.9% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. DHS constituted a larger share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (9.1%).
While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Department of Homeland Security’s share of the workforce (9.9%) is larger than its share of the budget (1.3%).

Who leads the Department of Homeland Security?

DHS is headed by the secretary of Homeland Security, who is nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and then sworn into office. They are one of the 15 cabinet members who serve at the president's discretion, overseeing the nation's efforts to ensure public safety, border security, and disaster response. This appointed position typically ends when the appointee resigns, is replaced, or when a new president takes office and appoints their own cabinet, though some may serve temporarily during transitions between administrations.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

  • Office of Personnel Management

    FedScope

  • Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury

    Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement

    Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury logo