Defense · Agencies
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense is the cabinet department responsible for providing the military forces needed to deter war and protect national security. It includes the Office of the Secretary of Defense, military departments, combatant commands, and numerous defense agencies and field activities.
How to read this section
- The military departments organize, train, and equip forces; combatant commands employ forces for geographic or functional missions.
- Funding and awarding agencies can differ on the same federal award.
- Budget requests, appropriations, obligations, and outlays describe different stages of federal finance.
Primary sources
Research and data resources
Department of Defense
About the Department of Defense
Official overview of the department, its mission, armed forces, commands, leadership, and organization.
Open source ↗Department of Defense
Military departments and defense agencies
Official directory of military departments, service branches, commands, and defense agencies.
Open source ↗DoD Comptroller
Defense budget materials
Official budget exhibits for procurement, research and development, military construction, personnel, and operations.
Open source ↗