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Priorities

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established in the wake of the September 11th attacks with the core responsibility to keep our nation safe. Over the past 20 years, DHS has evolved into the third largest Cabinet agency, with a workforce of 260,000 dedicated professionals who have more direct contact with the American public daily than any other federal government agency. 

“Congress may not have predicted the extent of today’s threat environment when our Department was created 20 years ago, but our mission has never been more vital, our components have never collaborated more closely, our extraordinary workforce has never been more capable, and our nation has never been more prepared.”  –Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

Ahead of the Department’s 20th anniversary in March 2023, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas updated the following twelve cross-functional priorities, first issued in 2022, to guide DHS’s strategic focus for the coming year and beyond.

In 2023, the Department made progress on these updated priorities to strengthen and enhance the Department’s capabilities in key areas. 

Last Updated: 01/30/2024
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