<P> The Coast Guard as established January 28, 1915, shall be a military service and a branch of the armed forces of the United States at all times . The Coast Guard shall be a service in the Department of Homeland Security, except when operating as a service in the Navy . </P> <P> Coast Guard organization and operation is as set forth in Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations . </P> <P> On 25 November 2002, the Homeland Security Act was signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush, designating the Coast Guard to be placed under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security . The transfer of administrative control from the U.S. Department of Transportation to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was completed the following year, on 1 March 2003 . </P> <P> The U.S. Coast Guard reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security . However, under 14 U.S.C. § 3 as amended by section 211 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006, upon the declaration of war and when Congress so directs in the declaration, or when the President directs, the Coast Guard operates under the Department of Defense as a service in the Department of the Navy . </P>

When did coast guard became part of homeland security