Executive departments are the 15 main Cabinet-level agencies of the federal government, including State, Defense, Treasury, Justice, and others. Each is headed by a secretary (or attorney general for Justice) who is appointed by the President and can be removed at will. These departments implement major government policies and report directly to the President, forming the core of the executive branch.
Executive departments handle the major functions of government including defense, foreign policy, law enforcement, and economic management. Their leaders are key presidential advisors.
People confuse executive departments with all federal agencies, but departments are only 15 Cabinet-level agencies while the broader federal government includes hundreds of agencies.
Executive departments handle the major functions of government including defense, foreign policy, law enforcement, and economic management. Their leaders are key presidential advisors.
People confuse executive departments with all federal agencies, but departments are only 15 Cabinet-level agencies while the broader federal government includes hundreds of agencies.