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Secretary of Homeland Security

The Secretary of Homeland Security oversees the third largest Cabinet department and leads our nation's efforts to secure our country from the many threats we face.

  • 21-0034 PLCY Undersecretary Wolf – Signed Ratification of Delegable Prior Action as AS 01.13.21

    In this document, Undersecretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans affirms and ratifies his prior delegable actions as Acting Secretary and certain delegable actions of others as limited herein.

  • DHS Delegation No. 23028

    In this delegation, the Acting Secretary for Homeland Security vests authority in the Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans as specified herein.

  • Expanding the Period of Designation of the 59th Presidential Inauguration as a National Special Security Event

    On January 12, Acting Secretary Gaynor issued a memorandum expanding the period of the 59th Presidential Inauguration National Special Security Event to begin on January 13, 2021.

  • Order Designating the Order of Succession for the Secretary of Homeland Security

    This January 11, 2021 order designates the order of succession for the Secretary of Homeland Security.

  • Strategic Approach for Arctic Homeland Security

    The Arctic’s expanded relevance, coupled with the Department’s significant regional investments, requires DHS to have a unified, deliberate, and forward-looking approach. The Strategic Approach for Arctic Homeland Security fully leverages the broad range of DHS authorities, capabilities, capacity and partnerships to achieve the goals laid out in this document. 

  • DHS Statement on Recent Challenges to Acting Secretary Wolf’s Authority

    Acting Secretary Chad Wolf continues to exercise authority as the head of the Department of Homeland Security in line with the succession orders issued by former Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and former Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan. On the basis of those orders, since November 2019, Acting Secretary Wolf has exercised the lawful authority to take actions that are the subject of current litigation challenges.

  • Letter from Acting Secretary Wolf to Twitter

    Letter from Acting Secretary Wolf to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on recent censorship by Twitter of DHS personnel.

  • Assistant Secretary Spivey to Chairman Thompson

    The Department’s reasonable offer could fully satisfy the Committee’s legitimate information needs. However, the Committee rejected the Department’s offer and issued a subpoena seeking to compel the Acting Secretary’s appearance. That action is inconsistent with the Committee’s constitutional obligation to work in good faith to meet the Department’s legitimate interests.

  • IG Cuffari Letter to Chairs Maloney and Thompson, 14 Sept 2020

    "Dear Chairman Thompson and Chairwoman Maloney: This responds to your letter of August 27, 2020, in which you ask that I review the matters referred to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the August 14, 2020 decision issued by the GAO General Counsel."

  • Acting Secretary Chad Wolf Letter to Mayor Ted Wheeler, August 31, 2020

    “Due to a lack of action throughout the summer, Portland and its law-abiding residents continue to suffer from large-scale looting, arson, and vandalism—even killing. Businesses remain shuttered and Portlanders are held hostage by the daily violence that has gripped the city with no end in sight.”