News release: “There is no parallel in government to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) start-up five years ago, and the degree of maturity it has reached in the short period since. The department’s growth is testament to its 208,000 employees, who every day put service before self – patrolling borders, protecting ports, defending the skies, enforcing immigration laws, and responding to disasters and emergencies. The department has experienced a number of significant tests in its short history, is intensely focused on the next major task: ensuring a smooth transition from one administration to the next, through rigorous plans, exercises and best practices.”