<P> Since its inception, the department has had its temporary headquarters in Washington, D.C.'s Nebraska Avenue Complex, a former naval facility . The 38 - acre (15 ha) site, across from American University, has 32 buildings comprising 566,000 square feet (52,600 m) of administrative space . In early 2007, the department submitted a $4.1 billion plan to Congress to consolidate its 60 - plus Washington - area offices into a single headquarters complex at the St. Elizabeths Hospital campus in Anacostia, Southeast Washington, D.C. The earliest DHS would begin moving to St. Elizabeths is 2012 . </P> <P> The move is being championed by District of Columbia officials because of the positive economic impact it will have on historically depressed Anacostia . The move has been criticized by historic preservationists, who claim the revitalization plans will destroy dozens of historic buildings on the campus . Community activists have criticized the plans because the facility will remain walled off and have little interaction with the surrounding area . On January 8, 2009, the National Capital Planning Commission approved the Department of Homeland Security's plans to move into the campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital . In February 2015 the General Services Administration said that the site would open in 2021 . </P> <P> During a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on the reauthorization of DHS, Elaine Duke, deputy secretary of DHS, said there is a weariness and anxiety within DHS about the repeated congressional efforts to agree to a long - term spending plan, which has resulted in several threats to shutdown the federal government . "Shutdowns are disruptive," Duke said . She said the "repeated failure on a longtime spending plan resulting in short - term continuing resolutions (CRs) has caused "angst" among the department's 240,000 employees in the weeks leading up to the CRs ." The uncertainty about funding hampers DHS's ability to pursue major projects and it takes away attention and manpower from important priorities . Seventy percent of DHS employees are considered essential and are not furloughed during government shutdowns . </P> <P> Soon after the formation of Department of Homeland Security, the department worked with the Ad Council to launch the Ready Campaign, a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man - made disasters . With pro bono creative support from the Martin Agency of Richmond, Virginia, the campaign website "Ready.gov" and materials were conceived in March 2002 and launched in February 2003, just before the launch of the Iraq War . One of the first announcements that garnered widespread public attention to this campaign was one by Tom Ridge in which he stated that in the case of a chemical attack, citizens should use duct tape and plastic sheeting to build a homemade bunker, or "sheltering in place" to protect themselves . As a result, the sales of duct tape skyrocketed and DHS was criticized for being too alarmist . </P>

Who controls funding for all departments within homeland security