When established, the Bureau of Navigation was a part of the United States Department of the Treasury. In 1903, the organization was transferred to the newly formed Department of Commerce and Labor. In 1913 that department was split in two and the bureau was assigned to the new Department of Commerce. In 1932 the bureau was combined with the Steamboat Inspection Service to form the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection. The Bureau of Navigation and Steam Inspection was in turn renamed the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation in 1936.