United States Federal Executive Departments

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The United States Federal Executive Departments are among the oldest primary units of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States—the Departments of State, War, and the Treasury all being established within a few weeks of each other in 1789.

The heads of the federal executive departments are the members of the traditional Cabinet; since 1792, they have, by statutory specification, constituted a line of succession, after the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate, to the presidency in the event of a vacancy in both that office and the vice presidency. The Constitution is referring to these officials when it authorizes the President, in Article II, section 2, to "require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices." In brief, they and their organizations are the administrative arms of the President.

Table of Executive Departments, modifications to them since creation and their 2004 budget

All departments are listed by their present-day name and only departments with past or present cabinet-level status are listed.
Department Creation Modifications since creation 2004 Budget
State 1789 .96 Billion
Treasury 1789 .10 Billion
Interior 1849 .70 Billion
Justice 1870 .40 Billion
Agriculture 1889 .60 Billion
Commerce 1903 Originally named Commerce and Labor; Labor later separated .20 Billion
Labor 1913 .70 Billion
Defense 1947 Initially named National Military Establishment 5.20 Billion
Health and Human Services 1953 Originally named Health, Education, and Welfare; Education later separated 3.20 Billion
Housing and Urban Development 1965 .20 Billion
Transportation 1966 .00 Billion
Energy 1977 .50 Billion
Education 1979 .80 Billion
Veterans Affairs 1988 .30 Billion
Homeland Security 2002 .50 Billion
Total budget (Fiscal Year 2004): ,402.36 Billion

Department	Creation	Modifications since creation	2004 Budget
State	1789		.96 Billion
Treasury	1789		.10 Billion
Interior	1849		.70 Billion
Justice	1870		.40 Billion
Agriculture	1889		.60 Billion
Commerce	1903	Originally named Commerce and Labor; Labor later separated	.20 Billion
Labor	1913		.70 Billion
Defense	1947	Initially named National Military Establishment	5.20 Billion
Health and Human Services	1953	Originally named Health, Education, and Welfare; Education later separated	3.20 Billion
Housing and Urban Development	1965		.20 Billion
Transportation	1966		.00 Billion
Energy	1977		.50 Billion
Education	1979		.80 Billion
Veterans Affairs	1988		.30 Billion
Homeland Security	2002		.50 Billion
Total budget (Fiscal Year 2004):	,402.36 Billion

Table of past departments

War	1789-1947	Subsumed by Department of Defense
Navy	1798-1947	Subsumed by Department of Defense
Post Office	1872-1971	Reorganized as quasi-independent agency, United States Postal Service
Commerce and Labor	1903-1913	Divided between Department of Commerce and Department of Labor
Health, Education, and Welfare	1953-1979	Divided between Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education

Sources

[Relyea, Harold C. "Homeland Security: Department Organization and Management", Report for Congress, 2002. RL31493 (August 7, 2002). (PDF)]

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