<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs to be updated . Please update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information . (February 2012) </Td> </Tr> <P> Departments are listed by their present - day name and only departments with past or present cabinet - level status are listed . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Department </Th> <Th> Creation </Th> <Th> Order of succession </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> <Th> 2009 Outlays in billions of dollars </Th> <Th> Employees </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> State </Td> <Td> 1789 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Initially named "Department of Foreign Affairs" </Td> <Td> 16.39 </Td> <Td> 18,900 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Treasury </Td> <Td> 1789 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 19.56 </Td> <Td> 115,897 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Justice </Td> <Td> 1870 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> Attorney General created in 1789, but had no department until 1870 </Td> <Td> 46.20 </Td> <Td> 113,543 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Interior </Td> <Td> 1849 </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> Took responsibility of offices previously managed by other departments, War, Treasury, and State, such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, General Land Office, and United States Patent and Trademark Office that were seen as having little to do with their respective Departments . </Td> <Td> 90.00 </Td> <Td> 71,436 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Agriculture </Td> <Td> 1889 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> Elevated to Cabinet level in 1889 </Td> <Td> 134.12 </Td> <Td> 109,832 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Commerce </Td> <Td> 1903 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> Originally named Commerce and Labor; Labor later separated </Td> <Td> 15.77 </Td> <Td> 43,880 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Labor </Td> <Td> 1913 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 137.97 </Td> <Td> 17,347 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Defense </Td> <Td> 1947 </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Created by the National Security Act of 1947 . Initially named "National Military Establishment" 1947 - 49 . Created from a merger of the Department of War and Department of the Navy . </Td> <Td> 651.16 </Td> <Td> 3,000,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Health and Human Services </Td> <Td> 1953 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> Originally the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; Education later separated </Td> <Td> 879.20 </Td> <Td> 67,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Housing and Urban Development </Td> <Td> 1965 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 40.53 </Td> <Td> 10,600 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Transportation </Td> <Td> 1966 </Td> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 73.20 </Td> <Td> 58,622 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Energy </Td> <Td> 1977 </Td> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 24.10 </Td> <Td> 109,094 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Education </Td> <Td> 1979 </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 45.40 </Td> <Td> 4,487 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Veterans Affairs </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> Formerly an independent agency as the Veterans Administration </Td> <Td> 97.70 </Td> <Td> 235,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Homeland Security </Td> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Created by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 </Td> <Td> 40.00 </Td> <Td> 240,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> Total outlays, employees: </Td> <Td> 2,311.30 Bn </Td> <Td> 4,214,652 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Department </Th> <Th> Creation </Th> <Th> Order of succession </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> <Th> 2009 Outlays in billions of dollars </Th> <Th> Employees </Th> </Tr>

The newest executive department in the united states government