Expanded its role as the protector of citizens

homeland security, in 2002

the largest employers of federal officers with arrest and firearm authority.

The Homeland Security Act, established in 2002, was a response to the terrorist attack of September 11. The Act went to converge 22 federal agencies as the Department of Homeland Security, as well as to establish a mission of the Department. The mission stated within in the act is to "prevent terrorist attacks within the United States", "reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism" and "minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery, from terrorist attacks that do occur within the United States". The Act can be found on the Homeland Security website and is 187 pages long.

the P.A.T.R.I.O.t act