Tom Ridge sworn in as first Secretary of Homeland Security

Tom Ridge is sworn in as the first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. President Bush praises Ridge as a decisive executive who knows how to solve problems. Ridge leads the newly consolidated department of more than 170,000 federal employees. DHS officially becomes operational, implementing a reorganization plan that brings together FEMA, TSA, Coast Guard, Customs Service, Secret Service, and Border Patrol. Bush emphasizes that under Ridge leadership, the overriding mission is protecting Americans from terrorism and natural disasters.