The 15 Cabinet Departments
Learn what each Cabinet department does, when it was created, and how it fits into the executive branch.
The Cabinet departments are the major executive departments led by secretaries nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Executive power is strongest when tied to law, transparency, and accountable administration.
The 15 Cabinet Departments
Cabinet departments are listed here in the order their original departments or modern predecessor departments were created. Each department is led by a secretary, except the Department of Justice, which is led by the Attorney General. These departments administer major areas of federal law and public service.
Department of State Established 1789. Diplomacy, foreign policy, passports, consular services, treaties, and relations with foreign governments.
Department of the Treasury Established 1789. Federal finance, public debt, economic policy, financial sanctions, and tax administration through the IRS.
Department of the Interior Established 1849. Public lands, national parks, natural resources, wildlife, and responsibilities involving Tribal nations.
Department of Justice Established 1870. Federal law enforcement, legal representation of the United States, civil rights enforcement, and federal prosecution.
Department of Agriculture Established 1889. Agriculture, food safety, farm programs, rural development, nutrition programs, forests, and agricultural research.
Department of Commerce Established 1903. Economic data, Census Bureau, trade, patents and trademarks, weather services, and business development.
Department of Labor Established 1913. Worker safety, wages and hours, employment data, unemployment insurance support, and workplace standards.
Department of Defense Established 1947. Military departments, defense policy, national security operations, and civilian oversight of the armed forces.
Department of Health and Human Services Established 1953. Public health, Medicare, Medicaid policy, health research, disease control, and human services programs.
Department of Housing and Urban Development Established 1965. Housing policy, fair housing, rental assistance, community development, and housing programs.
Department of Transportation Established 1966. Transportation safety, infrastructure, aviation, highways, transit, pipelines, and maritime policy.
Department of Energy Established 1977. Energy policy, national laboratories, nuclear security, grid research, and energy technology.
Department of Education Established 1979. Student aid, education data, civil rights enforcement in education, and federal education programs.
Department of Veterans Affairs Established 1989. Veterans health care, benefits, pensions, education benefits, home loans, and memorial affairs.
Department of Homeland Security Established 2002. Border security, immigration services, emergency management, cybersecurity, transportation security, and domestic preparedness.
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