Executive Branch Departments
Departments "area of focus" and Head of Departments
Department of Agriculture- They develop and complete policies on farming, agriculture, and food. Their goal is to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, advising agricultural trade and production, assuring food safety, protecting their natural resources, helping rural communities, and striving to end hunger in America and all around the world. Their leader is Tom Vilsack.
Department of Commerce- This department is in charge of improving the living standards for all Americans by promoting economic development and technological innovation. Their leader is Penny Pritzker.
Department of Defense- Their job is to give the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of The United States. Their headquarters in at the Pentagon. Their leader is Chuck Hagel.
Department of Education- They promote student achievement and help prepare students for the competition in a global economy by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access to get a good education. Their leader is Arne Duncan.
Department of Energy- They are trying to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States. Their leader is Ernest Moniz.
Department of Health and Human Services- They protect the health of all Americans and provide the essential human services, especially for those people who are not able to help themselves. Their leader is Sylvia Mathews.
Department of Homeland Security- Their mission is to prevent and disrupt terrorist attacks; protect Americans, or infrastructure, and key resources; and respond to and recover from incidents that happen to occur. Their leader is Jeh Johnson.
Department of Housing and Urban Development- They are responsible for national policies and programs that address America's housing needs, that improve and develop America's communities, and that enforce fair housing laws. Their leader is Julian Castro.
Department of the Interior- They protect America's natural resources, offer recreation opportunities, conduct scientific research, conserve and protect fish and wildlife, and honor our trust responsibilities to American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and to island communities. Their leader is Sally Jewell.
Department of Justice- They enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to endure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership with stopping and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those who break the law; and to make sure there is fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. Their leader is Eric Holder.
Department of Labor- They oversee federal programs for ensuring a strong American workforce. They address job training, safe working conditions, minimum hourly wage and overtime pay, employment discrimination, and unemployment insurance. Their leader is Thomas Perez.
Department of State- They develop and implement the Presidents Foreign policy. They represent the United States abroad, foreign assistance, foreign military training programs, countering international crime, and an assortment of services to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals seeking entrance to the U.S. Their leader is John Kerry.
Department of Transportation- Their mission is to ensure a fast, sage, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets or vital national interests and improves the quality of life of Americans. Their leader is Anthony Foxx.
Department of Treasury- They promote economic prosperity and ensure the soundness and security of the U.S. and international financial systems. Their leader is Jack Lew.
Department of Veterans Affairs- They administer benefit programs for veterans, their families, and their survivors. The benefits include pension, education, disability compensation, home loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, survivor support, medical care, and burial benefits. Their leader is Robert McDonald.
Top Five Departments
- The Department of State is very important because it is responsible for fulfilling foreign policy. We need to keep our allies happy and have them trusting in us for things to run smoothly.
- The Department of Defense keeps Americans safe in their own country. We do not have to fear often, like other countries, of terrorist attacks. The defense department keeps the wars and battles away from our homeland.
- The Department of Education helps get the new generations ready to go into the work force and be ready to compete for jobs. The department makes sure that equal access to the education is given.
- The Department of Health and Human Services makes sure that Americans have access to human services, especially those who can not get it on their own. The department tries to give Americans healthy lives.
- The Department of Transportation makes sure that our roads, highways, and interstates are up to date, and safe to drive on. When driving down the interstate there may be a lot of construction but it is to ensure that Americans are safe while traveling.
FBI
The FBI hires agents to be the lead investigators for matters of national security. They do things from field duty to research. The conduct investigations for violations of Federal Laws. They do these investigations for the Attorney General and to safeguard America's national security.