Mission Statement
The U.S. Department of Commerce promotes job creation, economic growth, sustainable development and improved standards of living for all Americans by working in partnership with businesses, universities, communities and our nation’s workers. The department touches the daily lives of the American people in many ways, with a wide range of responsibilities in the areas of trade, economic development, technology, entrepreneurship and business development, environmental stewardship, and statistical research and analysis.
To drive U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace, the Commerce Department works to strengthen the international economic position of the United States and facilitates global trade by opening up new markets for U.S. goods and services. Here at home, the Commerce Department promotes progressive business policies that help America’s businesses and entrepreneurs and their communities grow and succeed. Cutting-edge science and technology at the department fosters innovation, and a focus on research and development that moves quickly from the lab to the marketplace generates progress and new 21st century opportunities. No matter where businesses are in their life cycle, whether just getting off the ground or looking to expand into overseas markets, the Commerce Department is singularly focused on making U.S. companies more innovative at home and more competitive abroad, so they can create jobs.
The Commerce Department also provides effective management and monitoring of
our nation’s resources and assets to support both environmental and economic
health. Through critical weather monitoring, weather forecasts and resource
preservation, the department protects not only public safety and security but
also our oceans, coasts and marine life while assisting their economic
development. Other essential operations conducted by the Commerce Department
include the constitutionally mandated decennial census, which serves as the
basis of America’s representative democracy, as well as the system by which
businesses and innovators secure intellectual property rights. The
Secretary of Commerce leads the department’s efforts, overseeing a $7.5 billion budget
and nearly 47,000 employees worldwide.
More About Commerce's Organization
- Commerce Leadership (with contact information)
- Organizational Chart (PDF)
- Commerce Directives Management Program (DAO and DOO)
- Office of Inspector General
- Budget, Performance and Planning
- Department of Commerce Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan (PDF)
Portals and Partners
- Entrepreneurship.gov
- USA.gov
- Export.gov
- Manufacturing.gov
- Regulations.gov
- Grants.gov
- Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America
- Forms.gov
- Fedbizopps.gov
- gpoaccess.gov