15 executive departments

executive quest

Department of State (1789)

* Advises President on foreign policy
* Negotiates agreements with foreign countries
* Represents the United States abroad and in international organizations

First secretary:Thomas Jefferson

Current secretary:Antony J. Blinken

Sub departments:
* The Secretary of State. Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
* Deputy Secretaries of State. Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy.

Department of Treasury (1789)

* Produces coins and bills
* Collect taxes
* Borrow money and manages public debt
* Enforces alcohol, tobacco, and firearms law

First secretary:Alexander Hamilton

Current secretary:Janet Yellen

Sub departments:

* The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
* The Bureau of Engraving & Printing (BEP)

Department of Defense (1789)

Provides military forces deter war and protect the nation's security

First secretary:Henry Knox

Current secretary:Lloyd Austin

Sub departments:

* Army.
* Marine Corps.
* Navy.
* Air Force.

Department of Justice (1870)

* Prosecute those accused of violating federal law
* Provides legal advice to President
* Represents United States in court
* Enforces federal laws
* Operates federal prisons

First secretary:Benjamin Bristow

Current secretary:Merrick Garland

Sub departments:
* U.S. Trustee Program.
* Bureau of Prisons.
* Community Oriented Policing Services.

Department of Interior (1849)

* Manage public lands, wildlife refuges, and national parks
* Operate hydroelectric power plants
* Help Native Americans manage their affairs

First secretary:Thomas Ewing

Current secretary:Deb Haaland

Sub departments:

National Park Service. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Department of Agriculture (1889)

* Manage national forests
* Assists farmers and ranchers
* Administers food stamp and school lunch programs
* Inspects food

First secretary: Norman Coleman

Current secretary: Tom Vilsack

Sub departments:
* Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
* Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
* Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

Department of Commerce (1903)

* Conducts census
* Grants patents and registers trademarks
* Promotes international trade, economic growth, and technological development

First secretary:William Redfield

Current secretary:Gina Raimondo

Sub departments:
* Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
* Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
* U.S. Census Bureau.

Department of Labor (1913)

* Enforces federal laws on minimum wages, maximum hours, and safe working conditions
* Operate job training programs
* Administers unemployment insurance and workers' compensation programs

First secretary:William Wilson

Current secretary:Martin Walsh

Sub departments:
* Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB)
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
* Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

Department of Health and Human Services (1953)

* Fund healthcare research programs
* Conduct programs to prevent and control disease
* Enforces pure food and drug laws
* Administers Medicare and Medicaid

First secretary:Oveta Culp Hobby

Current secretary:Sarah Adelman

Sub departments:
* Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
* Administration for Community Living (ACL)
* Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)

Department of Housing and Urban Development (1965)

* Operate home-financing and public housing programs
* Enforces fair housing laws

First secretary:Robert Weaver

Current secretary:Marcia Fudge

Sub departments:
* The Office of Housing -- Federal Housing Administration (Housing/FHA)
* The Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)
* The Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH)

Department of Transportation (1967)

* Administers programs to promote and regulate highways, mass transit, railroads, waterways, air travel, and oil and gas pipelines

First secretary:Alan Boyd

Current secretary:Pete Buttigieg

Sub departments:
* Office of the Secretary.
* Federal Aviation Administration.
* Federal Highway Administration.

Department of Energy (1977)

* Promotes production of renewable energy, fossil fuels, and nuclear energy
* Transmits and sells hydroelectric power
* Conducts nuclear weapons research and production

First secretary:James Schlesinger

Current secretary:Jennifer Granholm

Sub departments:
* Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
* Public Affairs.
* Energy Information Administration.

Department of Education (1979)

* Administers federal aid to schools
* Conducts educational research

First secretary:Shirley Hufstedler

Current secretary:Miguel Cardona

Sub departments:
* Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education.
* Office of Postsecondary Education.
* Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

Department of Veterans Affairs (1988)

* Administers benefits, pensions, and medical programs for veterans of armed forces
* Oversees military cemeteries

First secretary:Edward Derwinski

Current secretary:Denis McDonough

Sub departments:
* National Cemetery Administration.
* Veterans Benefits Administration.
* Veterans Day National Committee.

Department of Homeland Security (2002)

* Border and transportation security
* Emergency preparedness and response
* Chemical, biological, nuclear defense, radiological
* Information analysis and infrastructure protection

First secretary:Thomas Ridge

Current secretary:Alejandro Mayorkas

Sub departments:
* U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
* United States Coast Guard (USCG)
* United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)