---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 541"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "541"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/541"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XII — Transition"
  - "Part A — Reorganization Plan"
---

# §541. Definitions


For purposes of this subchapter:

- (1) The term “agency” includes any [entity](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2), organizational unit, program, or function.
- (2) The term “transition period” means the 12-month period beginning on the effective date of this chapter.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XV, § 1501, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2307.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The effective date of this chapter, referred to in par. (2), is 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 4 of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as an Effective Date note under section 101 of this title.