The General Secretariat is the department's staff and coordination office. It :

• supports and advises the head of department in her daily work,
• is responsible for planning and monitoring the department's activities,
• oversees the results and impact of its decisions,
• is responsible for overall coordination of the department's activities,
• provides services for the whole department including human resources, finance and logistics, controlling and translation and
• through its IT Service Centre takes care of the department's IT needs.

Also affiliated to the General Secretariat are the Central Office for Civilian Service and the Federal Consumer Affairs Bureau.

The Central Office examines applications from people, who are unable to perform military service on grounds of conscience. If their request is approved they perform an alternative form of service in the field of social or health services, on environmental projects or in cultural heritage. The Central Office ensures that this work is undertaken in the public interest. The role of the Federal Consumer Affairs Bureau is to ensure that general consumer interests are respected and at the same time take sufficient account of specific collective interests on the part of the consumer and of the economy as a whole. It also promotes access to objective information in order to publicise consumer concerns.