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Lesson 4: The Establishment of the Department of Homeland Security
Creation of the Department of Homeland Security
On November 25, 2002, President Bush signed Public Law 107-296, establishing the Department of Homeland Security effective January 24, 2003. The president also announced on that day that Governor Ridge would become our nation’s first Secretary of Homeland Security.
Peruse PL-107-296 - Homeland Security Act of 2002.
The legislation charged DHS with a threefold mission:
- Protect the United States from further terrorist attacks.
- Reduce the nation's vulnerability to terrorism.
- Minimize the damage from potential terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
This sweeping reorganization created a department of 22 existing federal agencies with 180,000 employees. Secretary Ridge and his senior leadership were given one year to develop a comprehensive structural framework and name the heads for the major components and other offices created under the legislation. Beginning March 1, 2003, almost every one of the federal agencies named in the Homeland Security Act began their move into the new department.
Review the information in the following link: Agencies Incorporated into the Department of Homeland Security in 2003.
Follow this link to review the original organization of the Department of Homeland Security.