By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com
Today is the 16th anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security beginning operations in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The 22-agency department was established by President George W. Bush and was the largest reorganization of the federal government since the Department of Defense was created following World War II.
Bush tapped Tom Ridge, a former Republican governor of Pennsylvania, to lead an agency whose mission was to coordinate all “homeland security” efforts.
Official operations began on Jan. 24, 2003.
The department absorbed border protection, cybersecurity, immigration, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Secret Service.
The Department of Homeland Security operates with a $40.6 million budget and has 240,000 employees.
