What does DHS stand for? On a national level it stands for the Department of Homeland Security, a cabinet department of the United States federal government that began operating in 2003. It brought together a group of existing agencies that deal with borders, travel security, immigration services, disasters and protection of critical systems.
Closer to home, in many state and county governments, DHS means a Department of Human Services, the office that handles food aid, child care help and family programs. Knowing which one you are reading about depends on where the letters appear.
Quick facts
Stands for
Department of Homeland Security (federal)Also common
Department of Human Services (many states and counties)Type
Initialism, said D H SCreated by
The Homeland Security Act of 2002Led by
The Secretary of Homeland Security, a cabinet memberIncludes
TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service and moreNot to be confused with
HHS (Health and Human Services)
What does DHS stand for in the federal government?
At the federal level, the letters spell out Department of Homeland Security. Note that "of" is skipped, as it often is in agency initials. Congress created the department with the Homeland Security Act of 2002 after the September 11 attacks, and it opened in early 2003 by combining about two dozen existing offices.
The idea was to put agencies with related security jobs under one leader. Before then, functions like customs, immigration and disaster response sat in several different departments.
Agencies that are part of DHS
| Agency | Main job |
|---|---|
| TSA (Transportation Security Administration) | Airport passenger and baggage screening |
| FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) | Disaster preparation, response and recovery aid |
| Customs and Border Protection (CBP) | Ports of entry and border enforcement |
| ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) | Immigration enforcement and investigations inside the country |
| Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) | Green cards, naturalization and other immigration benefits |
| U.S. Coast Guard | Maritime safety, rescue and law enforcement |
| U.S. Secret Service | Protecting national leaders and investigating financial crimes |
| CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) | Defending networks and critical systems |
Because so many well known agencies sit inside it, DHS is one of the largest federal departments by number of employees. The Coast Guard is a military service that normally reports to DHS, though it can be moved under the Navy in wartime.
DHS as Department of Human Services
Many states and counties use DHS for a Department of Human Services. Some use a close variant, such as Department of Health Services. These offices run local programs like food assistance, child care subsidies, child welfare and help for older adults and people with disabilities. They are state or county offices, not part of the federal homeland security department.
On a letter in the mail: "Your county DHS caseworker will call you to schedule an interview for your SNAP renewal." This is the local human services office, not the federal agency that runs airport security.
A quick clue: if the letter mentions benefits, a caseworker or a county, it is almost certainly human services. If it mentions borders, travel, disasters or immigration, it is the federal department.
Other uses of the letters
- School names: DHS often stands for a local high school, such as a town name followed by High School.
- Health research: Demographic and Health Surveys, a long running set of household surveys in many countries.
- Older usage: the Department of Human Services in some states was once called by different names, so old paperwork may use other letters.
Saying, writing and using DHS
Say it letter by letter: "D H S." Capitals, no periods, and the in front: the DHS announced new rules. Many news outlets write "Homeland Security" on its own as a short name. Some sample sentences:
- "Her visa paperwork is handled by an agency within DHS."
- "The county DHS office is closed on Fridays."
- "FEMA is part of DHS, so disaster grants come through the department."
- "He took a job at DHS working on network security."
DHS vs HHS and other look-alikes
The most common mix up is with HHS, short for Health and Human Services, the federal department over health programs and agencies such as the CDC and the FDA. DHS deals with security and emergencies. A state DHS for human services may get federal money from HHS, which adds to the confusion.
Another look-alike is DOJ, the Department of Justice, which contains the FBI. For a wider list of federal letters, see government acronyms.
Questions people ask
What is DHS stand for on a benefits letter?
On a letter about food aid, child care help or medical assistance, DHS usually means your state or county Department of Human Services. It is a local office, separate from the federal security department.
When was DHS created?
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 created the department, and it began operating in early 2003. It combined many existing agencies into one.
Is ICE part of DHS?
Yes. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is one of the agencies inside the Department of Homeland Security, along with CBP, USCIS, TSA and FEMA.
What is the difference between DHS and HHS?
DHS means Homeland Security, the department focused on security, borders and emergencies. HHS stands for Health and Human Services and focuses on health programs and public health agencies.
How do you pronounce DHS?
Say each letter, D H S. It is an initialism and is not read as one word.