On November 25, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the Homeland Security Act, establishing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The new department consolidated more than twenty agencies, including the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service. Its creation responded to the September 11, 2001 attacks and concerns about coordination among federal agencies. DHS took on responsibilities for border security, transportation screening, disaster response, and infrastructure protection. Supporters argued it would improve preparedness and information sharing, while critics worried about bureaucratic complexity and civil liberties. The department has since become a central player in domestic security policy and emergency management.
