---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 238"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "238"
heading: "Office for Domestic Preparedness"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/238"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter IV — Border, Maritime, and Transportation Security"
  - "Part C — Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §238. Office for Domestic Preparedness

- (a) **Establishment—** There is established in the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) an Office for Domestic Preparedness.
- (b) **Director—** There shall be a [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) of the Office for Domestic Preparedness, who shall be appointed by the President.
- (c) **Responsibilities—** The Office for Domestic Preparedness shall have the primary responsibility within the executive branch of Government for the preparedness of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) for acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), including—
  - (1) coordinating preparedness efforts at the Federal level, and working with all [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, tribal, parish, and private sector [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6) on all matters pertaining to combating [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), including training, exercises, and equipment support;
  - (2) coordinating or, as appropriate, consolidating communications and systems of communications relating to [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) security at all levels of government;
  - (3) directing and supervising [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) preparedness grant programs of the Federal Government (other than those programs administered by the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of Health and Human Services) for all [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6);
  - (4) incorporating the Strategy priorities into planning guidance on an [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) level for the preparedness efforts of the Office for Domestic Preparedness;
  - (5) providing [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1)-specific training for agents and analysts within the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5), other [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1), and [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) and local [agencies](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) and international [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2);
  - (6) as the lead executive branch [agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) for preparedness of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) for acts of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), cooperating closely with the Federal [Emergency Management](/usc/6/701.md?p=7) [Agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1), which shall have the primary responsibility within the executive branch to prepare for and mitigate the effects of nonterrorist-related disasters in the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A);
  - (7) assisting and supporting the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16), in coordination with other Directorates and [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2) outside the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5), in conducting appropriate risk analysis and risk management activities of [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and [tribal governments](/usc/6/701.md?p=16) consistent with the mission and [functions](/usc/6/101.md?p=9) of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5);
  - (8) those elements of the Office of National Preparedness of the Federal [Emergency Management](/usc/6/701.md?p=7) [Agency](/usc/6/671.md?p=1) which relate to [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18), which shall be consolidated within the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) in the Office for Domestic Preparedness established under this section; and
  - (9) helping to ensure the acquisition of interoperable communication technology by [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17) and [local governments](/usc/6/101.md?p=13) and [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6).
- (d) **Fiscal years 2003 and 2004—** During fiscal year 2003 and fiscal year 2004, the [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) of the Office for Domestic Preparedness established under this section shall manage and carry out those [functions](/usc/6/101.md?p=9) of the Office for Domestic Preparedness of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of Justice (transferred under this section) before September 11, 2001, under the same terms, conditions, policies, and authorities, and with the required level of [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15), [assets](/usc/6/101.md?p=3), and budget before September 11, 2001.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title IV, § 430, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2191; Pub. L. 108–458, title VII, § 7303(h)(2), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3847; Pub. L. 112–166, § 2(f)(1), Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1284; Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 802(g)(1)(B)(iv)(II), Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 212.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2016—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–125, § 802(g)(1)(B)(iv)(II)(aa), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Office for Domestic Preparedness shall be within the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security.”

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–125, § 802(g)(1)(B)(iv)(II)(bb), struck out at end “The Director of the Office for Domestic Preparedness shall report directly to the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security.”

Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 114–125, § 802(g)(1)(B)(iv)(II)(cc), substituted “functions of the Department” for “functions of the Directorate”.

2012—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–166 struck out “, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate” before period at end of first sentence.

2004—Subsec. (c)(9). Pub. L. 108–458 added par. (9).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–166 effective 60 days after Aug. 10, 2012, and applicable to appointments made on and after that effective date, including any nomination pending in the Senate on that date, see section 6(a) of Pub. L. 112–166, set out as a note under section 113 of this title.