The Department of Defense (DoD) is the executive branch agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government related directly to national security and the military. It provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure the nation's security. The DoD oversees the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. The Coast Guard can also fall under the purview of the DoD for certain purposes.
Headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, the DoD is the largest government agency and one of the largest employers in the world, with approximately 2.8 million employees, including both civilian and military personnel. The Department of Defense operates in over 150 countries and on all 7 continents. For fiscal year 2024, the DoD spent $912 billion, which accounted for 13.5% of all federal spending. The Secretary of Defense, a cabinet-level head who reports directly to the President of the United States, leads the Department of Defense. Pete Hegseth is the current Secretary of War.
