United States Secretary of Homeland Security facts for kids
Quick facts for kids United States Secretary of Homeland Security |
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Flag of the secretary
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| Department of Homeland Security | |
| Style | Mister/Madam Secretary (informal) The Honorable (formal) |
| Member of | Cabinet Homeland Security Council National Security Council |
| Reports to | President of the United States |
| Seat | St. Elizabeths West Campus, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Nominator | President of the United States |
| Appointer | The president
with Senate advice and consent
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| Term length | No fixed term |
| Constituting instrument | 6 U.S.C. § 112 |
| Formation | January 24, 2003 |
| First holder | Tom Ridge |
| Succession | Eighteenth |
| Deputy | Deputy Secretary |
| Salary | Executive Schedule, Level I |
The United States Secretary of Homeland Security is the main leader of a very important government department. This department is called the United States Department of Homeland Security. Its big job is to help keep people in the United States safe and secure. The Secretary is a key member of the Cabinet of the United States. This is a group of top advisors to the President.
This important position was created after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The goal was to better protect the country from future threats. The new department brought together many different agencies. These agencies were already working on homeland security in various ways.
Some of these groups include the Coast Guard. They protect our waters and coasts. U.S. Customs and Border Protection looks after our country's borders. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) helps keep air travel safe. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) helps people during natural disasters and emergencies.
Currently, Kristi Noem is the Secretary of Homeland Security. She started her role on January 25, 2025. On March 5, 2026, President Donald Trump nominated Senator Markwayne Mullin to take over this position. He is expected to begin serving on March 31, 2026.
Contents
Leaders of Homeland Security
Before the Department of Homeland Security was created, there was a special assistant to the president. This person led the Office of Homeland Security. This office was formed after the September 11 attacks in 2001.
| No. | Portrait | Name | Senate vote | Term of office | President | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Duration | |||||||
| 1 | .jpg) |
Tom Ridge (Born Aug 26, 1945) |
94–0 | January 24, 2003 | February 1, 2005 | 2 years, 8 days | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
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| – |  |
James Loy (Born Aug 10, 1942) Acting |
– | February 1, 2005 | February 15, 2005 | 14 days | |||
| 2 | .jpg) |
Michael Chertoff (Born Nov 28, 1953) |
98–0 | February 15, 2005 | January 21, 2009 | 3 years, 341 days | |||
| 3 | .jpg) |
Janet Napolitano (Born Nov 29, 1957) |
Voice vote | January 21, 2009 | September 6, 2013 | 4 years, 228 days | Barack Obama (2009–2017) |
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| – | .jpg) |
Rand Beers (Born Nov 30, 1942) Acting |
– | September 6, 2013 | December 23, 2013 | 108 days | |||
| 4 | .jpg) |
Jeh Johnson (Born Sept 11, 1957) |
78–16 | December 23, 2013 | January 20, 2017 | 3 years, 28 days | |||
| 5 | .jpg) |
John F. Kelly (Born May 11, 1950) |
88–11 | January 20, 2017 | July 31, 2017 | 192 days | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
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| – | .jpg) |
Elaine Duke (Born June 26, 1958) Acting |
– | July 31, 2017 | December 6, 2017 | 128 days | |||
| 6 | .jpg) |
Kirstjen Nielsen (Born May 14, 1972) |
62–37 | December 6, 2017 | April 10, 2019 | 1 year, 125 days | |||
| – | .jpg) |
Kevin McAleenan (Born Sept 5, 1971) Acting |
– | April 10, 2019 | November 13, 2019 | 217 days | |||
| – | .jpg) |
Chad Wolf (Born June 21, 1976) Acting |
– | November 13, 2019 | January 11, 2021 | 1 year, 59 days | |||
| – | .jpg) |
Pete Gaynor (Born 1968) Acting |
– | January 11, 2021 | January 20, 2021 | 9 days | |||
| – | .jpg) |
David Pekoske (Born May 5, 1955) Acting |
– | January 20, 2021 | February 2, 2021 | 13 days | Joe Biden (2021–2025) |
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| 7 | .jpg) |
Alejandro Mayorkas (Born Nov 24, 1959) |
56–43 | February 2, 2021 | January 20, 2025 | 3 years, 353 days | |||
| – |  |
Benjamine Huffman Acting |
– | January 20, 2025 | January 25, 2025 | 5 days | Donald Trump (2025–present) |
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| 8 | .jpg) |
Kristi Noem (Born Nov 30, 1971) |
59–34 | January 25, 2025 | Incumbent | 1 year, 52 days | |||
Who Takes Over if the Secretary Can't Serve?
Sometimes, the Secretary of Homeland Security might not be able to do their job. In these cases, there's a special plan for who takes over. This plan is called the "order of succession." It makes sure that someone is always in charge of keeping the country safe.
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 sets out this order. It also allows the Secretary to create a specific list of who would take over. As of November 8, 2019, the main order of succession is:
- Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
- Under Secretary for Management
- Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans
- Administrator and Assistant Secretary of the Transportation Security Administration
- Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
There were some discussions about how this order was put in place. However, the main idea is to always have a clear line of leadership.
The Secretary's Office: How it Works
What the Secretary's Office Does
The Office of the Secretary (OS) helps the Secretary of Homeland Security do their job. It makes sure all the duties of the Department of Homeland Security are carried out. This office also supports other senior leaders and partners.
Who Works in the Secretary's Office
The Office of the Secretary includes several important teams. Most of the leaders of these teams report directly to the Secretary or the Deputy Secretary. The DHS Chief of Staff position is currently vacant.
| Component | Mission | Executives |
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| Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) | This office makes sure the department protects individual freedom and treats everyone fairly. It helps include civil rights practices in all the department's work. | * Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia
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| Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CISOMB) | This office helps people and businesses with issues they have with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It also suggests ways to improve the immigration system. | * CIS Ombudsman: Nathan Stiefel (acting)
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| Office of the Executive Secretary (ESEC) | This team provides direct support to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary. They help with important information and written messages for the department. | * Executive Secretary: Kimberly O'Connor |
| Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) | This office helps individuals with concerns about how they are treated in immigration facilities. It also checks on these facilities to make sure standards are met. | * ID Ombudsman: David Gersten (acting)
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| Office of the General Counsel (OGC) | This office provides legal advice to the department. It makes sure that all homeland security policies follow the law. It also protects the rights of Americans. | * General Counsel: Jonathan Meyer
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| Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) | This office works as the main link between the department and members of Congress. They also work with the White House and other government groups. | * Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs: Zephranie Buetow
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| Office of Partnership and Engagement (OPE) | This office connects the Department of Homeland Security with important groups across the country. They make sure the department works well with outside partners. | * Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement: Brenda F. Abdelall
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| Privacy Office | This office protects people's privacy in all the department's activities. They make sure that privacy rules are followed and that the department is open about its work. | * Chief Privacy Officer: Mason C. Clutter |
| Office of Public Affairs (OPA) | This office handles all public communications for the department. They are the main source of public information during national emergencies or disasters. | * Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs: Daniel Watson
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| Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (OSP&P) | This office helps the Secretary and other leaders plan for the future. They analyze different situations and help make important decisions for homeland security. | * Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans: Robert Silvers
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| Office for State and Local Law Enforcement (OSLLE) | This office works with police and law enforcement groups at the state, local, tribal, and campus levels. They help coordinate efforts to keep communities safe. | * Assistant Secretary for State and Local Law Enforcement: Heather Fong
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See also
In Spanish: Secretario de Seguridad Nacional de los Estados Unidos para niños
- Interior minister
- List of current interior ministers
