If you’re wondering who’s actually at the helm of the massive machine known as the DHS, the short answer is Kristi Noem.
She was sworn in as the 8th Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on January 25, 2025. Honestly, the scale of what she’s managing is kind of hard to wrap your head around. We're talking about the third-largest department in the U.S. government. It’s a 260,000-person workforce.
It’s not just one office. It's a sprawling collection of 22 different components that most of us interact with without even realizing it.
The Big Picture: Who is Kristi Noem?
Before taking this job, Noem was the Governor of South Dakota. She was the first woman to hold that seat, and she’s brought a very specific "rancher-style" management approach to Washington. You might have seen her in the news lately swearing in Admiral Kevin Lunday as the 28th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, or perhaps you heard about the new DHS office she just launched to deal with drone technology.
She’s basically the point person for President Trump’s domestic security agenda. Her days are filled with everything from border enforcement stats to cybersecurity threats. It’s a lot.
The Power Players Under the Secretary
While Noem is the face of the department, she doesn't do it alone. The leadership chart at DHS is a mix of Senate-confirmed officials and career experts "acting" in roles while they wait for official stamps of approval.
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Troy Edgar is currently serving as the Deputy Secretary. Think of him as the Chief Operating Officer. While the Secretary handles the big-picture politics and strategy, the Deputy is usually the one making sure the 22 components aren't tripping over each other.
And then you have the individual "bosses" of the agencies you definitely know:
- Customs and Border Protection (CBP): This is run by Commissioner Rodney Scott. He's a veteran of the Border Patrol and is currently overseeing what the department calls "historic lows" in border encounters.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): This one is currently in a bit of a transition. Just recently, on January 15, 2026, Noem appointed Charles Wall as the new Deputy Director. He’s an attorney who has been with ICE for about 14 years.
- The Secret Service: Led by Director Sean Curran. His job is arguably the most stressful, especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the "America250" celebrations coming up.
- CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency): Currently led by Dr. Madhu Gottumukkala in an acting capacity. This is the "nerd" side of DHS, but it's probably the most critical for preventing the power grid from going dark.
It's Not Just a One-Person Show
People often think "who runs the Department of Homeland Security" refers to a single dictator-like figure. It’s more like a massive corporate conglomerate.
FEMA (the disaster people) is currently being steered by Karen Evans as the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator. TSA (the people who make you take your shoes off) is being managed by Ha Nguyen McNeill.
When you look at the names, you see a pattern. There are a lot of "Acting" titles or "Senior Officials." This happens because getting people confirmed through the Senate is a slow, political grind.
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What’s Actually Happening in 2026?
If you've been following the headlines, the DHS is currently obsessed with two things: drones and the border.
They just launched a $115 million investment into counter-drone tech. Why? Because the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a massive security target. They're also dealing with some pretty heavy political heat. Rep. Jamie Raskin and other Democrats have been digging into DHS hiring practices lately, specifically asking questions about whether certain individuals connected to the events of January 6, 2021, have been brought into the department.
It’s a polarized environment.
On one hand, Noem is touting a 95% drop in southwest border apprehensions compared to the previous administration. On the other hand, she's catching flak for things like ending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals, which she recently announced would end in March 2026.
Does the President Run the DHS?
Technically, yes. The Secretary serves at the pleasure of the President. In this case, Kristi Noem is carrying out the specific mandates of Donald Trump.
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Basically, if the President wants a shift in how immigration law is enforced, Noem is the one who writes the memos that tell the 260,000 employees what to do. But practically? The career professionals—the people who have been at CBP or the Coast Guard for 30 years—are the ones who keep the lights on.
The Components You Should Care About
If you're trying to track who has the most influence right now, watch these three:
- Science and Technology Directorate: Under Pedro Allende, they are the ones buying the new AI and drone tech that will change how airports and borders look in the next two years.
- Intelligence and Analysis (I&A): Led by Matthew Kozma. They’re the ones who talk to the FBI and CIA to figure out if there’s a legitimate threat you should be worried about.
- Management Directorate: This is currently overseen by Benjamine Huffman. It sounds boring, but he controls the $60+ billion budget. He who has the money, has the power.
What’s Next?
If you want to keep tabs on who’s running things, you’ve got to look at the DHS leadership page regularly. It changes fast.
The next big thing to watch is the Homeland Security Week summit in March 2026. That’s where all these leaders—Noem, Scott, Lunday—will lay out exactly how they plan to secure the country during the 250th-anniversary celebrations.
Actionable Insights for Following DHS Leadership:
- Check the "Press Releases" section on DHS.gov: This is where the real-time "who’s who" updates happen. If a new Director is named for FEMA or TSA, it will pop up there first.
- Follow the Federal Register: If you’re a policy wonk, this is where you see the actual rules being signed by Noem. It’s dry, but it’s where the power is exercised.
- Watch the Appropriations Committee hearings: If you want to see who’s actually in charge, watch them testify before Congress. That’s when the "Acting" officials often have to answer the toughest questions about their authority.
The Department of Homeland Security is a moving target. While Kristi Noem is the name at the top of the stationery, the "running" of the department is a complex web of veteran law enforcement officers and political appointees trying to balance a massive budget with an even bigger mission.