Who is the principal federal official for domestic incident management?

The principal federal official for domestic incident management is the Secretary of Homeland Security.

This role is designated to coordinate federal operations and ensure the integration and synchronization of federal efforts during domestic incidents. As per the FEMA instructor guide, “The Secretary of Homeland Security, as the principal Federal official for domestic incident management, immediately begins to coordinate supporting Federal operations.”

From the perspectives of other federal agencies and emergency management professionals, the role of the Secretary of Homeland Security as the principal federal official for domestic incident management is crucial for establishing a central point of coordination and leadership during national crises.

The authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security encompasses overseeing the integration of federal resources and capabilities across the various agencies involved in incident management.

Source: https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is800d/english/instructor%20guide/el0800.d%20ig.pdf