United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
Seal of the Department of Homeland Security
Flag of the United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
Incumbent Troy Edgar since March 8, 2025
United States Department of Homeland Security
Style	Ms./Mr. Deputy Secretary (informal) The Honorable (formal)
Status	Chief operating officer
Reports to	United States Secretary of Homeland Security
Appointer	The President of the United States with the Senate advice and consent
Term length	No fixed term
Constituting instrument	6 U.S.C. § 113
Formation	2003 (22 years ago) (2003)
First holder	Gordon R. England
Succession	1st in DHS succession
Salary	Executive Schedule, level II
Website	www.dhs.gov

The deputy secretary of homeland security is the chief operating officer of the United States Department of Homeland Security, with responsibility for managing day-to-day operations. The department has over 208,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $48.5 billion.^[1]

If the secretary of homeland security dies, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office, the deputy secretary is to serve as an acting secretary.^[2]

The deputy secretary is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate.^[2] The position of Deputy Secretary was created along with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002.^[3] The deputy secretary is paid $168,000 annually.

No.	Portrait	Deputy Secretary	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	President
1		England, GordonGordon R. England (born 1937)	January 24, 2003	October 1, 2003	250 days	Republican	Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R)
2		Loy, JamesJames Loy (born 1942)	October 1, 2003	March 1, 2005	1 year, 151 days	Independent	Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R)
3		Jackson, MichaelMichael P. Jackson (born 1954)	March 10, 2005	October 26, 2007	2 years, 230 days	Independent	Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R)
4		Schneider, PaulPaul A. Schneider (born 1944)	June 5, 2008	February 11, 2009	251 days	Independent	Bush, GeorgeGeorge W. Bush (R) Barack Obama (D)
5		Lute, JaneJane Holl Lute (born 1956)	April 3, 2009	April 9, 2013	4 years, 6 days	Independent	Obama, BarackBarack Obama (D)
–		Beers, RandRand Beers[1] (born 1942) Acting	April 9, 2013	September 6, 2013	150 days	Democratic	Obama, BarackBarack Obama (D)
–		Borras, RafaelRafael Borras[2] Acting	September 26, 2013	December 23, 2013	88 days	Independent	Obama, BarackBarack Obama (D)
6		Mayorkas, AlejandroAlejandro Mayorkas (born 1959)	December 23, 2013	October 28, 2016	2 years, 310 days	Democratic	Obama, BarackBarack Obama (D)
–		Deyo, RussellRussell Deyo[3] Acting	November 1, 2016	April 4, 2017	154 days	Independent	Obama, BarackBarack Obama (D) Donald Trump (R)
7		Duke, ElaineElaine Duke (born 1958)	April 10, 2017	April 15, 2018	1 year, 5 days	Republican	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
–		Duke, ElaineClaire Grady[4] Acting	April 16, 2018	April 10, 2019	359 days	Independent	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
–		Pekoske, DavidDavid Pekoske[5] (born 1955) Acting	April 11, 2019	November 13, 2019	216 days	Independent	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
–		Cuccinelli, KenKen Cuccinelli[6] (born 1968) Acting	November 13, 2019	January 20, 2021	1 year, 68 days	Republican	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
–		Pekoske, DavidDavid Pekoske[5] (born 1955) Acting	January 20, 2021	June 24, 2021	155 days	Independent	Biden, JoeJoe Biden (D)
8		Tien, JohnJohn K. Tien (born 1963)	June 24, 2021	July 20, 2023	2 years, 26 days	Independent	Biden, JoeJoe Biden (D)
–		Canegallo, KristieKristie Canegallo[7] (born 1979) Acting	July 21, 2023	January 20, 2025	1 year, 183 days	Democratic	Biden, JoeJoe Biden (D)
–		Tierney, MaryAnnMaryAnn Tierney[4][5] Acting	January 20, 2025	January 28, 2025[6]	8 days	Independent	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
–		Tierney, MaryAnnBenjamine Huffman[6][8] Acting	January 28, 2025	February 4, 2025	7 days	Republican	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)
9		Edgar, TroyTroy Edgar (born 1967)	March 8, 2025	Incumbent	99 days	Republican	Trump, DonaldDonald Trump (R)

¹ Rand Beers served as acting deputy secretary in his capacity as Undersecretary of Homeland Security for National Protection and Programs.

² Rafael Borras served as acting deputy secretary in his capacity as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management.

³ Russell Deyo served as acting deputy secretary in his capacity as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management.

⁴ Claire Grady served as acting deputy secretary in her capacity as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management.

⁵ David Pekoske served as acting deputy secretary in his capacity as Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.

⁶ Ken Cuccinelli served as the senior official performing the duties of deputy secretary in his capacity as acting director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. His tenure was ruled unlawful.

⁷ Kristie Canegallo served as acting deputy secretary in her capacity as chief of staff.^[7]

⁸ Benjamine Huffman served as acting deputy secretary in his capacity as Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers.

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