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Order Code RL31472

CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web

Departmental Organization, 1947-2003

Updated August 12, 2003

Sharon Gressle
Specialist in American National Government
Government and Finance Division

Congressional Research Service ~ The Library of Congress
Departmental Organization,
1947-2003

Summary
Since the end of World War II, nine federal departments have been created in
the executive branch. The tables in this report provide selected information on the
organization of those departments.
Contents

Table 1. Department Establishment, 1947-2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Table 2. Confirmation Rates on Department Secretaries for
Newly Organized Departments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Figure 1. Executive Branch Energy Reorganization, 1973-1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Departmental Organization,
1947-2001

Congress, when considering proposals to establish a Department of Homeland
Security, studied the histories of other major federal agencies and departments as
possible templates for structures and administrative policies that worked and those
that required adjustment.

The tables that follow offer selected basic information common to all the
departments1 created since the end of World War II. For each, Table 1 provides a
citation to the enabling legislation, on-board staffing as it was established and as of
September 30, 2001, the budget for the first fiscal year, the estimated budget for
FY2003 and the FY2004 request, brief information on the authorities or
responsibilities moved to the department in the organic act from other federal
entities, and a statement on the new authorities or responsibilities added by the
organic act. Table 2, while also including the enabling citations, provides the name
of the first secretary, holdover status, nomination and confirmation dates, and the
time lapse between Senate receipt of the nomination and confirmation action.

Following the tables is an organizational flow chart presenting the history of
agency movement before and during the creation of the Department of Energy.

1
In order of creation: Department of Defense; Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare; Department of Housing and Urban Development; Department of Transportation;
Department of Energy; Department Health and Human Services; Department of Education;
Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Homeland Security.
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Table 1. Department Establishment, 1947-2003

Authorities or responsibilities
Enabling Budget moved to the department
Legislation On-Board (2003 estimate; in the organic act New authorities or responsibilities
Department and Date Staffing f 2004 request) from other federal entities added by the organic act

Defense National Security 1947 FY1950 Single cabinet-level Dept. of Defense Independent U.S. Air Force/Dept. of
Act of 1947 (June 30) $16.5 billion (DOD) established; previous cabinet- the Air Force established out of the
(10 U.S.C. 111) Military - level Departments of War (renamed U.S. Army Air Forces; new Central
(61 Stat. 495) 1,582,999 FY2003 Dept. of the Army) and Navy became Intelligence Agency authorized.
July 26, 1947a Civilian - $364.0 billion subordinate to DOD.
836,085
FY2004
2003 $379.6 billion
Military -
1,453,485
Civilian -
664,446
Health, Reorganization Plan 1953 FY1954 Converted from Federal Security Nothing new added to the department
Education, and No. 1 (5 U.S.C. app.) 36,320 $1.9 billion Agency. The name was changed, the by transfer from other parts of
Welfare April 11, 1953 Secretary automatically became a government.
Cabinet member, and the President was
Reformed as the authorized to appoint the undersecretary,
Department of three new assistant secretaries, and a
Health and Human general counsel, all subject to Senate
Services in 1979 confirmation.b

Housing and Housing and Urban 1966 FY1967 The HUD Secretary was given all the The Secretary was instructed to advise
Urban Development Act 14,094 $3.1 billion powers, functions, and duties of the the President with respect to federal
Development P.L. 89-174 Housing and Home Finance Agency and programs and activities relating to
(79 Stat. 667) 2003 FY2003 its components, which consisted of an housing and urban development. He
Sept. 9, 1965 10,643 $34.5 billion Office of the Administrator, the Federal was to develop and recommend urban
(42 U.S.C. 3532- Housing Administration, the Public policies; provide assistance to local
3537) Housing Administration, the Federal areas concerning community and
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HUD Although the FY2004 National Mortgage Association, the metropolitan development problems;
(continued) legislation was $35.0 billion Community Facilities Administration, consult and cooperate with states;
c
signed Sept. 9, HUD and the Urban Renewal Administration. hold public hearings; encourage
did not officially comprehensive state and local
become a department planning; encourage private
until midnight on enterprise; and conduct continuing
Nov. 8, 1965. comprehensive studies.
Transportation Department of 1967 FY1968 Agencies initially included: The Office of the Secretary of
Transportation Act 58,882 $6.1 billion � U.S. Coast Guard from Dept. of Transportation was charged with
(49 U.S.C. 102) Treasury. developing and implementing
(96 Stat. 2414) 2003 FY2003 � Federal Aviation Administration from national transportation policy. The
October 15, 1966 58,819 $53.6 billion independent Federal Aviation Agency. National Transportation Safety Board
� Federal Highway Administration; was created as an independent agency
FY2004 highway programs from Bureau of by the DOT Act. It assumed the
$54.2 billion Public Roads, traffic (automotive) safety accident investigation powers
programs from National Traffic Safety formerly located in the Bureau of
Agency, highway safety programs from Aviation Safety of the Civil
National Highway Safety Agency, all Aeronautics Board.
from Dept. of Commerce; and motor
carrier safety programs from Interstate
Commerce Commission.
� Federal Railroad Administration;
Alaska Railroad from Dept. of Interior;
rail safety activities from the Bureau of
Railroad Safety and Service in the
Interstate Commerce Commission; and
Office of High Speed Ground
Transportation from Dept. of
Commerce.
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Transportation Later additions from other depts.:
(continued) � Urban Mass Transportation
Administration (now the Federal Transit
Administration) from Dept. of Housing
and Urban Development in 1968. The
DOT Act required that the Secretary of
Transportation and the Secretary of
HUD make a recommendation as to
where transit should be located
administratively. A recommendation
was made and enacted in the following
year.
� Maritime Administration transferred
from the Dept. of Commerce by the
Maritime Act of 1981.
Energy Energy Organization 1977 FY1978 Movement of agencies and functions in --
Act 19,647 $10.467 billion the new Department of Energy reflected
(42 U.S.C. 7131) (Oct. 1) actions taken through the Federal
(91 Stat. 565) FY2003 Energy Administration Act of 1974
August 4, 1977 2003 $20.0 billion (P.L. 93-275), the Energy
15,789 Reorganization Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-
FY2004 438), and departmental enabling
$21.2 billion legislation: research and waste activities
of the Atomic Energy Commission to
Energy Research and Development
Administration (ERDA) in 1974 and
ERDA to DOE in 1977; Cost of Living
Council (Energy Division); Dept. of
Commerce (Industrial Energy
Conservation Program); Dept. of
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Energy Defense (Division of Military
(continued) Applications, Division of Naval
Reactors, Naval Petroleum Reserves);
Dept. of the Interior (Bureau of Mines
-- fossil fuel research, Office of Coal
Research, Office of Energy
Conservation, Office of Energy Data
and Analysis, Office of Oil and Gas,
Office of Petroleum Allocation, Power
Marketing Administrations);
Environmental Protection Agency
(electric and alternative vehicle R&D);
Energy Policy Office; Federal Energy
Administration, later the Federal Energy
Office; Federal Power Commission;
Department of Housing and Urban
Development (energy conservation
standards for new buildings); Interstate
Commerce Commission (oil pipeline
regulation); and National Science
Foundation (geothermal solar heating
research).

Health and Department of 1980 FY1981 When the Department of Education was --
Human Services Education 155,662 $80.788 billion created, the remaining portion of the
Organization Act Department of Health, Education, and
(20 U.S.C. 3508) 2003 FY2003 Welfare was redesignated as the
(93 Stat. 695) 67,091 $507.8 billion Department of Health and Human
October 17, 1979 Services. (Sec. 509 of the Act)
FY2004
$537.7 billion
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Education Department of 1980d FY1981 � Elementary and Secondary Education No significant new authorities or
Education 7,364 $14.725 billion � Postsecondary Education responsibilities.
Organization Act � Vocational and Adult Education
(20 U.S.C. 3411) 2003 FY2003 � Special Education and Rehabilitative
(93 Stat. 671) 4,592 $60.5 billion Services
October 17, 1979 � Educational Research and
FY2004 Improvement
$61.4 billion � Bilingual Education and Minority
Languages Affairs
� Office for Civil Rights

Veterans Veterans Affairs Act 1989 FY1990 All functions of the Veterans Added 40 full- time inspectors
Affairs (38 U.S.C. 201) 245,992 $29.2 billion Administration were transferred to the general to existing IGs. Made
(102 Stat. 2635) department. Secretary and 11 top positions
March 15, 1989 2003 FY2003 presidential appointments subject to
225,159 $57.6 billion Senate confirmation, vs. previous
situation of Administrator, Deputy
FY2004 Administrator, and IG being only
$61.4 billion presidential appointments subject to
Senate confirmation.e

Homeland Homeland Security 2003 FY2003 Twenty-two agencies or programs were The overarching responsibilities of
Security Act of 2002 151,813 $25.3 billion transferred from the Department of the the department are to prevent terrorist
(6 U.S.C. 101, note) Treasury, the Department of attacks within the United States and to
(116 Stat. 2135) FY2004 Transportation, the Department of reduce the vulnerability of the United
Nov. 25, 2002 $28.0 billion Justice, the Department of Health and States to terrorist activities. The
Human Services, the Department of Secretary is charged with those
Agriculture, the Department of Energy, responsibilities on both the federal
the Department of Defense, the and federal-state-locality coordinative
Department of State, and the Federal platforms. g
Emergency Management Agency.
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Note: Contributors to Table 1: Robert Goldich (Defense, 7-7633), Susan Watkins Greenfield (Health, Education, and Welfare and Health and Human Services, 7-8979), Jim Riehl
(Housing and Urban Development, 7-8988), John Fischer (Transportation, 7-7766), Carl Behrens (Energy, 7-8303), Paul Irwin (Education, 7-7573), Gary Reynolds (Veterans'
Affairs, 7-8987), and Sharon Gressle (Homeland Security, 7-8677).
a
The National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (63 Stat. 578; August 10, 1949) redesignated the National Military Establishment as the Department of Defense and established it
as an executive department.
b
For further information, see The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, by Rufus E. Miles Jr. (New York: Praeger, 1974).
c
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1965, CQ Almanac, p. 382. Additional detail concerning the function of each of these agencies may be found in the 1965 CQ Almanac, p. 365.
d
Department of Education full-time equivalents: 1980 -- 7,700; and 2001 -- 4,710. Full-time equivalent equals total number of hours worked in a 12-month period divided by 2080
(hours in a work year). This calculation captures all the time worked in a year, not the number of people employed at any given time.
e
Archived CRS Report 87-919, Proposals in the 100th Congress to Make the Veterans Administration a Cabinet-Level Department: Background Information and Analysis of Issues,
by Anne C. Stewart (not available), and 1988 CQ Almanac.
f
Staffing levels are provided for the end of the first fiscal year of operation and for the most current data available from the Department of Defense (uniformed military personnel)
and the Office of Personnel Management (civilian), March 2003.
g
For further information on the Department of Homeland Security, see CRS Report RL31493, Homeland Security: Department Organization and Management�Legislative Phase,
by Harold C. Relyea and CRS Report RL31751, Homeland Security: Department Organization and Management�Implementation Phase, by Harold C. Relyea.
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Table 2. Confirmation Rates on Department Secretaries for Newly Organized Departments

Time Lapse
Holdover Date Date from
Enabling Legislation of Received in Confirmed by Reception to
Department and Date Secretary Appointee Senate Senate Confirmation
Defense National Security Act (Army-Navy James V. Forrestal No 07/26/47 07/26/47 0
Unification Act) (10 U.S.C. 113) (61 Stat.
495) of July 26,1947a

Health, Education, Reorganization Plan No. 1 Oveta Culp Hobby No 04/02/53 04/10/53b 8
and Welfare (5 U.S.C. app.) (67 Stat. 631) of April 11,
1953

Housing and Urban Housing and Urban Development Act (42 Robert C. Weaver No 01/14/66 01/17/66 3
Development U.S.C. 3532-3537) (79 Stat. 667) of
November 9, 1965

Transportation Transportation Act Alan Boyd No 01/10/67 01/12/67 2
(49 U.S.C. 102) (96 Stat. 2414) of October
15, 1966

Energy Energy Organization Act James R. No 08/04/77 08/05/77 1
(42 U.S.C. 7131) (91 Stat. 569) of August 4, Schlesinger
1977, pursuant to E.O. 12009 of September
13, 1977c

Health and Human Department of Education Organization Act Patrica Roberts Yes 07/20/79 08/03/79 14
Services (20 U.S.C. 3508) (93 Stat. 695) of October Harris
17, 1979
Education Department of Education Organization Act Shirley Mount No 11/14/79 11/30/79 16
(20 U.S.C. 3411) (93 Stat. 671) of October Hufstedler
17, 1979
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Time Lapse
Holdover Date Date from
Enabling Legislation of Received in Confirmed by Reception to
Department and Date Secretary Appointee Senate Senate Confirmation

Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs Act (38 U.S.C. 201) (102 Edward J. Yes 01/20/89 03/02/89 41
Stat. 2635) of March 15, 1989 Derwinskid

Homeland Security Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. Thomas J. Ridge No 01/07/03 01/22/03 15
101, note) (116 Stat. 2135) of Nov. 25, 2002

Average Time Lapse: 11

Source: Table 2 created by Mitchel Sollenberger, Congressional Research Service, June 19, 2002.
a
The National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (63 Stat. 578; August 10, 1949) redesignated the National Military Establishment as the Department of Defense and established it
as an executive department.
b
Appointment of Oveta Culp Hobby effective on April 11, 1953.
c
Executive Order 12009 extends the effective date of the Energy Organization Act to October 1, 1977.
d
Senate confirmed Edward J. Derwinski as both Secretary and Administrator of Veterans Affairs effective on March 2, 1989.
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Figure 1. Executive Branch Energy Reorganization, 1973-1977

Note: Source unknown.

Laws

P.L. 93-275: Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974
P.L. 93-438: Energy Reorganization Act of 1974
P.L. 95-91: Department of Energy Organization Act

Agencies

AEC: Atomic Energy Commission
CLC: Cost of Living Council (Energy Division)
DOC: Department of Commerce (Industrial Energy Conservation Program)
DOD: Department of Defense
DMA: Division of Military Applications
DNR: Division of Naval Reactors
NPR: Naval Petroleum Reserves
DOI: Department of the Interior
BOM: Bureau of Mines (fossil fuel research) (moved in 1977)
OCR: Office of Coal Research
OEC: Office of Energy Conservation
OEDA: Office of Energy Data and Analysis
OOG: Office of Oil and Gas (moved in 1977)
OPA: Office of Petroleum Allocation
PMA: Power Marketing Administration
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency (electric and alternative vehicle R& D)
EPO: Energy Policy Office
ERDA: Energy Research and Development Administration
FEA: Federal Energy Administration
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FEO: Federal Energy Office
FPC: Federal Power Commission
HUD: Department of Housing and Urban Development (energy conservation standards
for new buildings)
ICC: Interstate Commerce Commission (oil pipeline regulation)
NRC: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
NSF: National Science Foundation (geothermal solar heating research)

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For other versions of this document, see http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RL31472