---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 456"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "456"
heading: "Military activities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/456"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Coordination with Non-Federal Entities; Inspector General; United States Secret Service; Coast Guard; General Provisions"
  - "Part H — Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §456. Military activities


Nothing in this chapter shall confer upon the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) any authority to engage in warfighting, the military defense of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A), or other military activities, nor shall anything in this chapter limit the existing authority of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) of Defense or the Armed Forces to engage in warfighting, the military defense of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A), or other military activities.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title VIII, § 876, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2244.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 107–296, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, known as the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables.