The Office of Homeland Security is established on October 8, 2001, less than one month after the September 11 terrorist attack. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, was appointed as the first Director of the Office of Homeland Security in the White House.
On November 25, 2002, the Department of Homeland Security was established by combining 22 different federal departments and agencies into a unified, integrated Cabinet agency. Homeland Security is now one of the largest organs of the federal government, charged with preventing terror attacks, border security, immigrations and customs, disaster relief and prevention and other related tasks.
