U.S. Government Resources: Agencies

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African Development Foundation
http://www.adf.gov

The African Development Foundation is a unique organization that promotes broad-based, sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. Established by Congress as a federal agency and a public corporation, ADF maintains a local office, staffed with African professionals, in each of the countries in which it operates.

Agency Index
http://www.washlaw.edu/doclaw/executive5m.html

This web site, sponsored by the Washburn University School of Law, offers an extensive index for federal government agencies.

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
http://www.ttb.gov/

One provision of the Homeland Security Act divided the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms into two new agencies, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), which has moved to the Department of Justice, and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau which remains in the Department of the Treasury. The Bureau will be responsible for administering the alcohol and tobacco laws and implementing regulations previously administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
http://www.atf.treas.gov/

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF) is a law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Justice. The Bureau, formerly known as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, was initially established by the Department of Treasury. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred certain functions and authorities of the Bureau to the Department of Justice and established it under its current name. The Bureau's unique responsibilities include protecting the public and reducing violent crime. ATF enforces the Federal laws and regulations relating to alcohol and tobacco diversion, firearms, explosives, and arson.

America.gov
http://www.america.gov/

The Bureau of International Information Programs' website, America.gov, provides products and services for the foreign affairs community.

Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/

As part of the Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy.

Central Intelligence Agency
https://www.cia.gov/

The Central Intelligence Agency was created in 1947 with the signing of the National Security Act by President Truman. The CIA is an independent agency whose mission is to support the President, the National Security Council, and all officials who make and execute the U.S. national security policy by providing accurate, comprehensive, and timely foreign intelligence on national security topics, and by conducting counterintelligence activities, special activities, and other functions related to foreign intelligence and national security, as directed by the President.

Corporation for National and Community Service
http://www.nationalservice.org/

The Corporation for National and Community Service engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to help strengthen communities, and includes three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America.

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
http://www.dnfsb.gov/

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board is an independent federal agency established by Congress in 1988. The Board's mandate under the Atomic Energy Act is to provide safety oversight of the nuclear weapons complex operated by the Department of Energy (DOE).

Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/

A well-organized website which features access to thousands of documents. Search by keyword or select from an alphabetical list of topics. EPA Dockets contains Federal Register notices, support documents, and public comments for regulations the agency publishes.

Export-Import Bank of the U.S.
http://www.exim.gov/

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank's mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets.

Farm Credit Administration
http://www.fca.gov/

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA or agency) is an independent agency in the executive branch of the U.S. Government. It is responsible for the regulation and examination of the banks, associations, and related entities that collectively comprise what is known as the Farm Credit System (System), including the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac). Initially created by an Executive order of the President in 1933, the agency now derives its powers and authorities from the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended (Act). FCA's mission is to promote a safe and sound, competitive Farm Credit System.

Federal Bureau of Investigation
http://www.fbi.gov/

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice. It is primarily charged with gathering and reporting facts, locating witnesses, and compiling evidence in cases involving Federal jurisdiction. It also provides law enforcement leadership and assistance to State and international law enforcement agencies.

Federal Citizen Information Center
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/

Formerly the Federal Consumer Information Center, this web site provides the answer to questions about the Federal government and everyday consumer issues.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
http://www.fdic.gov/

An independent agency created by Congress in 1933, the FDIC supervises banks, insures deposits up to $100,000 and helps maintain a stable and sound banking system.

Federal Housing Finance Board
http://www.fhfb.gov/

The Finance Board is an independent regulatory agency of the executive branch of the U.S. Government. It regulates 12 FHL Banks and their 7,929 member-owners, which constitute the FHL Bank System, and helps finance the country's urban and rural housing and community development needs. This partnership supports community-based financial institutions and facilitates their access to credit.

Federal Labor Relations Authority
http://www.flra.gov/

The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is an independent agency responsible for administering the labor-management relations program for 1.9 million Federal employees world-wide. Its mission is to promote stable and constructive labor-management relations that contribute to an efficient and effective government.

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
http://www.fmcs.gov/internet/

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service was created in 1947 as an independent agency of the U. S. government. The agency is given the mission of preventing or minimizing the impact of labor-management disputes on the free flow of commerce by providing mediation, conciliation and voluntary arbitration.

Federal Reserve System
http://www.federalreserve.gov/

The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system.

Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
http://www.frtib.gov/

The FRTIB was established as an independent agency of the Executive Branch by the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986. It was established to administer the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), which provides Federal employees the opportunity to save for additional retirement security.

Federation of American Scientists
http://www.fas.org/

The Federation of American Scientists is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501c3 organization founded in 1945 as the Federation of Atomic Scientists. FAS' strategies include advocacy, briefings with policy makers and the press, public education and outreach, collaboration with civil rights, human rights, and arms control groups, and grassroots organizing.

Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov/

The U S. Food and Drug Administration, as part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is a scientific, regulatory, and public health agency that oversees consumer protection. Its jurisdiction encompasses most food products (other than meat and poultry), human and animal drugs, therapeutic agents of biological origin, medical devices, radiation-emitting products for consumer, medical, and occupational use, cosmetics, and animal feed.

General Services Administration
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/home.do?tabId=0

The General Services Administration establishes policies for the management of government property and records.

General Services Administration: Online Auction
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentId=9881&contentType=GSA_BASIC

Allows registered participants to bid on single item or multiple items (lots) of federal personal property assets.

Government National Mortgage Association
http://www.ginniemae.gov/

Ginnie Mae was created in 1968 as a wholly owned corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD.) Its purpose was - and is - to serve low-to moderate-income homebuyers.

Inter-American Foundation
http://www.iaf.gov/index/index_en.asp

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) is an independent agency of the United States government that provides grants to nongovernmental and community-based organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean for innovative, sustainable and participatory self-help programs.

Legal Services Corporation
http://www.lsc.gov/

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a private, non-profit corporation established by Congress to seek to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing civil legal assistance to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it. LSC was created in 1974 with bipartisan congressional sponsorship and the support of the Nixon administration, and is funded through congressional appropriation.

Merit Systems Protection Board
http://www.mspb.gov/sites/mspb/default.aspx

The Merit Systems Protection Board was established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 to serve as the guardian of the Federal Government's merit-based system of employment. Its mission is to ensure that Federal employees are protected against abuses by agency management, that Executive branch agencies make employment decisions in accordance with the merit systems principles, and that Federal merit systems are free of prohibited personnel practices.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
http://www.nasa.gov/

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. Formed as a result of the Sputnik crisis of confidence, NASA inherited the earlier National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), and other government organizations, and almost immediately began working on options for human space flight.

National Archives and Records Administration
http://www.archives.gov/index.html

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent federal agency that preserves the nation's history and defines Americans as a people by overseeing the management of all federal records.

National Credit Union Administration
http://www.ncua.gov/

The National Credit Union Administration is the independent federal agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions.

National Endowment for the Arts
http://www.nea.gov/

The National Endowment for the Arts provides national recognition and support to significant projects of artistic excellence, thus preserving and enhancing our nation's diverse cultural heritage. The Endowment was created by Congress and established in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government.

National Endowment for the Humanities
http://www.neh.gov/

NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities.

National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities

The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities was created as an independent agency by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965.The Foundation consists of the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

National Institutes of Health
http://www.nih.gov/

The National Institutes of Health is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the nation. It is an agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

National Labor Relations Board
http://www.nlrb.gov/

The NLRB is an independent Federal agency created in 1935 to enforce the National Labor Relations Act. The Board conducts secret-ballot elections to determine whether employees want union representation and investigates and remedies unfair labor practices by employers and unions.

National Mediation Board
http://www.nmb.gov/

The National Mediation Board (NMB), established by the 1934 amendments to the Railway Labor Act of 1926, is an independent agency that performs a central role in facilitating harmonious labor-management relations within two of the nation's key transportation modes--the railroads and airlines.

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
http://www.noaa.gov/

As part of the Department of Commerce, NOAA’s mission is to describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment, and conserve and manage wisely the Nation's coastal and marine resources to ensure sustainable economic opportunities.

National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
http://www.amtrak.com

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) was created by the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970, and was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia to provide a balanced national transportation system by developing, operating, and improving U.S. intercity rail passenger service.

National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/

The National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent agency of the U.S. Government established by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, promotes the progress of science and engineering through the support of research and education programs.

National Transportation Safety Board
http://www.ntsb.gov/

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in the other modes of transportation -- railroad, highway, marine and pipeline -- and issuing safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
http://www.osha.gov/

OSHA establishes protective standards and enforces those standards to promote a healthy, safe workplace.

Office of Government Ethics
http://www.usoge.gov/

The Office of Government Ethics (OGE), a small agency within the executive branch, was established by the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. Originally part of the Office of Personnel Management, OGE became a separate agency on October 1, 1989 as part of the Office of Government Ethics Reauthorization Act of 1988. The Office of Government Ethics exercises leadership in the executive branch to prevent conflicts of interest on the part of Government employees, and to resolve those conflicts of interest that do occur. In partnership with executive branch agencies and departments, OGE fosters high ethical standards for employees and strengthens the public's confidence that the Government's business is conducted with impartiality and integrity.

Office of Personnel Management
http://www.opm.gov/

The Office of Personnel Management was created as an independent establishment by Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1978. Many of the functions of the former United States Civil Service Commission were transferred to OPM. OPM administers a merit system to ensure compliance with personnel laws and regulations and assists agencies in recruiting, examining, and promoting people on the basis of their knowledge and skills, regardless of their race, religion, sex, political influence, or other no-merit factors.

Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI)
http://www.osti.gov/

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) provides access to a wealth of energy, science, and technology research and development (R&D) information from the Manhattan Project to the present. Key data collections include Information Bridge, Energy Citations, and E-Print Network.

Office of Special Counsel
http://www.osc.gov/

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency. Our basic authorities come from three federal statutes, the Civil Service Reform Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act, and the Hatch Act. OSC’s primary mission is to safeguard the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially reprisal for whistle-blowing.

Overseas Private Investment Corporation
http://www.opic.gov/

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) was established as a development agency of the U.S. government in 1971. OPIC helps U.S. businesses invest overseas, fosters economic development in new and emerging markets, complements the private sector in managing the risks associated with foreign direct investment, and supports U.S. foreign policy.

Peace Corps
http://www.peacecorps.gov/indexf.cfm

The Peace Corps was officially established in 1961, and was made an independent agency by Title VI of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981. Its mission is to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, and to help promote better mutual understanding between Americans and peoples of other countries.

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
http://www.pbgc.gov/

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is a federal corporation created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to encourage the continuation and maintenance of defined benefit pension plans.

Railroad Retirement Board
http://www.rrb.gov/default.asp

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is an independent agency in the executive branch of the Federal Government. The RRB's primary function is to administer comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit programs for the nation's railroad workers and their families, under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts.

Selective Service System
http://www.sss.gov/

President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 which created the country's first peacetime draft and formally established the Selective Service System as an independent Federal agency. Its mission is to provide manpower to the armed forces in an emergency, and to run an Alternative Service Program for men classified as conscientious objectors during a draft.

Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/

The Small Business Administration assists, counsels, and protects small businesses.

Smithsonian Institution
http://www.si.edu/

The Smithsonian Institution is a collection of scientific and cultural museums, centers, and galleries, which include the National Air and Space Museum, National Gallery of Art, National Museum of Natural History, National Zoological Park, and many more. It was bequeathed to Congress by James Smithson, a British scientist, and was officially established in 1846.

Social Security Administration
http://www.ssa.gov/ or http://www.socialsecurity.gov

Social Security Online, the official web site of the Social Security Administration, contains information about Social Security benefits, press releases, Congressional testimony, employer information, forms (PEBES), legislation and regulations, publications, and links to other sites.

State Justice Institute
http://www.statejustice.org/

The State Justice Institute (SJI) was established by Federal law in 1984 to award grants to improve the quality of justice in State courts, facilitate better coordination between State and Federal courts,and foster innovative, efficient solutions to common problems faced by all courts.

Tennessee Valley Authority
http://www.tva.gov/

With the facilities that generate the electricity to serve more than 8.3 million people, the Tennessee Valley Authority is the nation’s largest public power producer. This unique federal corporation provides affordable, reliable electricity to consumers in the seven-state Tennessee Valley region. But TVA does much more than generate power. It also works to support economic development in the Valley and serves as an environmental steward of the nation’s fifth largest river system.

Trade and Development Agency
http://www.tda.gov/

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment.

United States Institute of Peace
http://www.usip.org/

The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan federal institution created by Congress to promote the prevention, management, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts. Established in 1984, the Institute meets its congressional mandate through an array of programs, including research grants, fellowships, professional training, education programs from high school through graduate school, conferences and workshops, library services, and publications.

United States Postal Service
http://www.usps.com

The United States Postal Service, which officially began operations on July 1, 1971 is an independent establishment of the executive branch of the Government. The mission of the Postal Service provides postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people.

U.S. Agency for International Development
http://www.usaid.gov/

USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. The agency supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting economic growth, agriculture and trade; global health; and, democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance.

U.S. Federal Government Agencies Directory
http://www.lib.lsu.edu/gov/fedgov.html

Louisiana State University has prepared a federal agency directory in complete alphabetical and hierarchical order, as well as other links to the sub-categories of the U.S. government.

Women's Bureau
http://www.dol.gov/wb/welcome.html

The U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau, established by Congress in 1920, is the only federal agency mandated to represent the needs of wage-earning women in the public policy process.