What does the do?

Refreshed 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 2025,

$115B

was spent by the Department of Homeland Security
In FY 2025,

1.6%

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 $115.3 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2025. This was 1.6% of the $7.04 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked ninth among federal agencies in total spending.

The Department of Homeland Security accounted for 1.6% of all federal spending in FY 2025.

Share of DHS net spending compared to the top ten highest spending agencies in FY 2025

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 $55.9 billion in 2003 to $115.3 billion in 2025.

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The Department of Homeland Security’s federal spending in FY 2025 was higher than in FY 2003.

Yearly federal net spending by DHS, adjusted for inflation (2025 dollars), FYs 2003–2025

Since 2003, Department of Homeland Security spending has increased 106.4%, while overall spending has increased 85.3%.
The department’s spending grew more than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget increased. In 2025, DHS accounted for 1.6% of all federal spending. That’s 0.2 percentage points higher than 2003 and 0.5 points higher than 2015.
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 2025 was higher than in FY 2003.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to DHS, FYs 2003–2025

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 2025, the Department of Homeland Security transferred 45.0% of its total spending to states and local governments.
The chart below outlines all net DHS spending.

How did the Department of Homeland Security spend its budget in 2025?

Federal government net spending isolated to DHS, FY 2025

Federal agencies often contain divisions including bureaus, offices, and subagencies. In FY 2025, the Department of Homeland Security divisions with the highest expenditures were the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the 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 2025

How many people work for the Department of Homeland Security?

Some 226,000 of the 2.02 million total civilian federal employees work for the Department of Homeland Security as of May 2026. This is 13.9% more people than the department staffed in 2012.

The number of federal employees working for the Department of Homeland Security has increased 13.9% since 2012.

Number of federal employees working for DHS, May 2012–2026

DHS accounts for 11.2% 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 May 2026 than in 2012 (9.4%).
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 (11.2%) is larger than its share of the budget (1.6%).

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.