The United States secretary of homeland security is the head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the federal department tasked with border control, counterterrorism and other aspects of public safety in the United States. The secretary is a member of the Cabinet of the United States. The position was created by the Homeland Security Act following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
The new department consisted primarily of components transferred from other Cabinet departments because of their role in homeland security, such as the Coast Guard, the Federal Protective Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (which includes the United States Border Patrol), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (which includes Homeland Security Investigations), the United States Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The current homeland security secretary is Markwayne Mullin, who was sworn in on March 24, 2026.
List of secretaries of homeland security Prior to the establishment of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there existed an assistant to the president for the Office of Homeland Security, which was created following the September 11 attacks in 2001.
PortraitNameState of residenceSenate voteTerm of officePresidentTook officeLeft officeDuration1 Pennsylvania94–0January 24, 2003February 1, 2005(2001–2009)–Pennsylvania–February 1, 2005February 15, 20052New Jersey98–0February 15, 2005January 21, 20093ArizonaVoice voteJanuary 21, 2009September 6, 2013(2009–2017)–Maryland–September 6, 2013December 23, 20134New York78–16December 23, 2013January 20, 20175Massachusetts88–11January 20, 2017July 31, 2017(2017–2021)–Ohio–July 31, 2017December 6, 20176Florida62–37December 6, 2017April 10, 2019–California–April 10, 2019November 13, 2019–Texas–November 13, 2019January 11, 2021–Rhode Island–January 11, 2021January 20, 2021–Connecticut–January 20, 2021February 2, 2021(2021–2025)7California56–43February 2, 2021January 20, 2025–Texas–January 20, 2025January 25, 2025 (2025–present)8South Dakota59–34January 25, 2025March 24, 20269Oklahoma54–45March 24, 2026Incumbent
Table notes (7) (4) (5)
a. James Loy served as acting secretary in his capacity as Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
b. Rand Beers served as acting secretary in his capacity as confirmed Undersecretary of Homeland Security for National Protection and Programs and Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security; Beers was the highest ranking Senate-approved presidential appointee at the Department of Homeland Security.
c. Elaine Duke served as acting secretary in her capacity as Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
d. Kevin McAleenan served as acting secretary in his capacity as Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection. His tenure was ruled unlawful.
e. Chad Wolf served as acting secretary in his capacity as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Strategy, Policy, and Plans. His tenure was ruled unlawful.
f. Peter Gaynor served as acting secretary in his capacity as Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator.
g. David Pekoske served as acting secretary in his capacity as Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration
h. Benjamine Huffman served as acting secretary in his capacity as Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers.
Order of succession While appointment of acting officials is generally governed by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (FVRA), the Homeland Security Act of 2002 creates exceptions to FVRA, mandating that the under secretary of homeland security for management is third in the line of succession for Secretary of Homeland Security, and establishes an alternate process by which the secretary can directly establish a line of succession outside the provisions of the FVRA.
As of November 8, 2019, the order of succession is as follows. However, the legality of this update was challenged.
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
Formerly, an update on April 10, 2019, to the DHS Orders of Succession, made pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, provided a different order in the case of unavailability to act during a disaster or catastrophic emergency:
Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Under Secretary for Management Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Under Secretary for Science and Technology Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans General Counsel Deputy Under Secretary for Management Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
As a result of Executive Order 13753 in 2016, the order of succession for the secretary of homeland security was as follows:
Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Under Secretary of Homeland Security for National Protection and Programs Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Assistant Secretary for Policy General Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security Deputy Under Secretary for Management Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration Deputy Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Office of the Secretary of Homeland Security The Office of the Secretary (OS) oversees the execution of the duties of the Department of Homeland Security. Certain elements also aid the secretary of homeland security and senior officials of the Department of Homeland Security, as well as private sector and government partners in their duties.
Composition The Office of the Secretary contains several offices and other elements of the DHS. Most of the heads of these elements report directly to the secretary or deputy secretary, but the military advisor and executive secretary report to the DHS chief of staff, a position that is currently vacant since January 2025.
While DHS secretary Kristi Noem was participating in an immigration raid on April 8, 2025, she was accompanied by former Trump campaign manager and senior adviser Corey Lewandowski, who introduced himself to the federal agents as “chief of staff.” DHS later clarified that he is an adviser to DHS and a special government employee.
+Components of the Office of the Secretary of Homeland SecurityComponentMissionExecutivesSubordinate componentsOffice for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) Supports the Department's mission to secure the nation while preserving individual liberty, fairness, and equality under the law. Builds in civil rights and civil liberties practices into all of the Department’s activities. Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia Deputy Officer for Programs & Compliance: Peter Mina Deputy Officer for EEO and Diversity: Veronica Venture Programs and Compliance Division Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Division Office for Accessible Systems and Technology (jointly run with DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer)Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CISOMB) Serves as a liaison between the public and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Helps individuals and employers resolve issues they are having with USCIS. Holds engagements to hear from the public about their experiences with USCIS. Identifies issues in the immigration system and make recommendations to USCIS on how to address these problems. CIS Ombudsman: Nathan Stiefel (acting) Deputy Ombudsman: Nathan Stiefel Policy Division Public Engagement Division Casework Division Operations Division Strategy DivisionClimate Change Action Group Drives urgent action to address the climate crisis. Analyzes, on an ongoing basis, the impacts of climate change on DHS missions, assets, and personnel. Adapts DHS operations, assets, and missions to account for the climate crisis via risk- based strategies. Coordinates DHS-wide sustainability operations to mitigate additional harm. Recommends specific, concrete steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Recommends specific, concrete steps to promote resilience and adaptation to reduce the multiple risks posed by the climate crisis. Recommends organizational and resource realignments as necessary to support the Department’s activities to address the climate crisis. Co-Chairs: Cass Sunstein & Robert P. SilversOffice of the Executive Secretary (ESEC) Provides all manner of direct support to the Secretary of Homeland Security and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, as well as related support to leadership and management across the DHS. Accurate and timely dissemination of information and written communications. Executive Secretary: Kimberly O'ConnorOffice of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) Assists individuals with complaints about the potential violation of immigration detention standards or other misconduct by DHS (or contract) personnel. Provides oversight of immigration detention facilities. ID Ombudsman: David Gersten (acting) ID Deputy Ombudsman: N/A Case Management Division Detention Oversight Division Policy and Standards Division External Relations Division Operations and Resource Management Division Program Integration DivisionFamily Reunification Task Force Committed to the safe reunification of families that were unjustly separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. Chair: Alejandro Mayorkas Executive Director: Michelle BranéIncludes the secretaries of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and State, as well as the Attorney General. It also includes several other officials from the DHS, DOJ, HHS, and State Department.Office of the General Counsel (OGC) Provides complete, accurate, and timely legal advice on possible courses of action for the DHS. Ensures that homeland security policies are implemented lawfully, quickly, and efficiently. Protects the rights and liberties of any Americans who come in contact with the Department of Homeland Security. Facilitates quick responses to congressional requests for information. Represents the department in venues across the country, including in U.S. immigration courts. The OGC accomplishes these tasks with over 3,000 attorneys. General Counsel: Jonathan Meyer Deputy General Counsel: Joseph B. Maher CBP Chief Counsel: Frederick B. Smith CISA Chief Counsel: Spencer Fisher USCIS Chief Counsel: A. Ashley Tabaddor USCG Judge Advocate General: Melissa Bert FEMA Chief Counsel: Adrian Sevier FLETC Chief Counsel: Trisha Besselman (acting) ICE Principal Legal Advisor: Kerry Doyle USSS Chief Counsel: Thomas F. Huse TSA Chief Counsel: Francine Kerner Ethics & Compliance Law Division