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Central Intelligence Agency

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Central Intelligence Agency
Director:John Ratcliffe
Year created:1947
Official website:Office website

TheCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA) is a United States agency formed in 1947 to "preempt threats and further US national security objectives."[1]

The director of the CIA isJohn Ratcliffe. The head of the agency was originally the director of Central Intelligence, also charged with coordinating all U.S. intelligence efforts. In 2004, the position was abolished and replaced by a director of the CIA and the separate director of national intelligence, inheriting some of the DCI's roles.[2][3][4]

History

The following are important dates in the CIA's history:[5][6]

  • 1941: Coordinator of Information office formed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a predecessor to the Director of Central Intelligence
  • 1946: Director of Central Intelligence office formed by a Harry Truman Presidential Directive
  • 1947: National Intelligence Act passed, forming the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Council under the Director of Central Intelligence
  • 1959-1961: CIA Headquarters built in Langley, VA
  • 1961: CIA-backed Cuban exiles attempt Bay of Pigs invasion
  • 1962: CIA discovers nuclear weapons in Cuba, leading to Cuban Missile Crisis
  • 1976:U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence formed
  • 1977:U.S. House Select Committee on Intelligence formed
  • 1982: Intelligence Identities Protection Act passed, allowing for prosecution of anyone who reveals identities of intelligence agents
  • 1984: Central Intelligence Agency Information Act passed, blocking the CIA from Freedom of Information Act requests
  • 2004: Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act passed, restructuring the intelligence community under the Director of National Intelligence; Director of the CIA office formed

Mission

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The official CIA mission statement is as follows:

Preempt threats and further US national security objectives by collecting intelligence that matters, producing objective all-source analysis, conducting effective covert action as directed by the President, and safeguarding the secrets that help keep our Nation safe.[1][7]

Leadership

John Ratcliffe is the director of theCentral Intelligence Agency in the second term of theTrump administration.[3][4]

Directors of the CIA Full History
Directors of the CIAYears in officeNominated byConfirmation vote
Porter J. Goss2004-2006George W. Bush77-17
Gen. Michael V. Hayden2006-2009George W. Bush78-15
Leon Panetta2009-2011Barack Obama100-0
David Petraeus2011-2012Barack Obama94-0
John Brennan2013-2017Barack Obama63-34
Mike Pompeo2017-2018Donald Trump66-32
Gina Haspel2018-2021Donald Trump54-45
William J. Burns2021-2025Joe BidenVoice vote
Thomas Sylvester Jr. (acting)2025-2025Donald Trump
John Ratcliffe2025-presentDonald Trump74-25

Organizational chart

CIA org chart.jpg

See also

External links

Footnotes

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