Agency Guide

Central Intelligence Agency

Lauren Reisig — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:17:00 GMT

Official Name: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Mission Statement: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent US Government agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers.

Director: General Michael V. Hayden

Number of Employees: undisclosed for security reasons

Budget: $5 Billion

Best Known For:

Collecting, evaluating, and disseminating foreign intelligence to assist the president and senior US government policymakers in making decisions relating to the national security.

Fun Facts:

CIA Headquarters is often referred to as Langley, in regards to its location in Virginia (though the name of the surrounding unincorporated community is McLean, VA, not Langley).
The CIA provides several programs in which students ranging from high school seniors to graduate students may participate

Hot Button Issues:

National Security

History:

1947 - The Central Intelligence Agency is created in 1947 by the National Security Act signed by President Truman. The act also created a Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to serve as head of the United States intelligence community; act as the principal adviser to the President for intelligence matters related to the national security; and serve as head of the Central Intelligence Agency.

2004 - On December 17, President Bush signed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act which restructured the Intelligence Community by abolishing the position of Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI) and creating the position the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA). The Act also created the position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which oversees the Intelligence Community and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).

Department of Agriculture

Lauren Reisig — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:05:00 GMT

Official Name: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Mission Statement: "We provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.”

Director: Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns

Employees: 92,221 (the proposed figure for the FY2008 full-time staffed positions)

Budget:

USDA Budget (Dollars in Millions)

	2006	2007	2008
	Actual	Estimate	Budget
Total Budget Authority	97,339	87,767	90,942
Total Discretionary Budget Authority	22,531	19,908	20,226
Total Outlays	93,533	88,767	89,026
Total Discretionary Outlays	22,265	22,355	21,941

Best known for:

The USDA has seven mission areas: Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; Food Safety; Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Natural Resources and Environment; Research, Education and Economics; Rural Development. According to the USDA’s website, the missions of each area are as follows:
Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services helps to keep America's farmers and ranchers in business as they face the uncertainties of weather and markets. They deliver commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and emergency assistance programs that help improve the stability and strength of the agricultural economy.
Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services works to harness the Nation's agricultural abundance to end hunger and improve health in the United States. Its agencies administer federal domestic nutrition assistance programs and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, which links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers through science-based dietary guidance, nutrition policy coordination, and nutrition education.
Food Safety ensures that the Nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and properly labeled, and packaged. This mission area also plays a key role in the President's Council on Food Safety and has been instrumental in coordinating a national food safety strategic plan among various partner agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Marketing and Regulatory Programs facilitates domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products and ensures the health and care of animals and plants. MRP agencies are active participants in setting national and international standards.
Natural Resources and Environment ensures the health of the land through sustainable management. Its agencies work to prevent damage to natural resources and the environment, restore the resource base, and promote good land management.
Research, Education and Economics is dedicated to the creation of a safe, sustainable, competitive U.S. food and fiber system, as well as strong communities, families, and youth through integrated research, analysis, and education.
Rural Development is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America by providing financial programs to support essential public facilities and services as water and sewer systems, housing, health clinics, emergency service facilities and electric and telephone service. Rural Development promotes economic development by providing loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools, while also assisting communities to participate in community empowerment programs.

Fun Facts:

Coined by Lincoln as “The People’s Department”
USDA employs people in over 7,000 locations worldwide
USDA prints numerous publications, including Amber Waves Magazine, be FoodSafe: The Food Safety and Inspection Service Magazine, Agricultural Research Magazine, Rural Cooperatives Magazine, Foreign Agricultural Service Worldwide Magazine.
USDA has a graduate school – Graduate School, USDA – open to anyone at least 18 years of age, regardless of their educational background or place of employment.

Hot button Issues:

Pandemic flu and avian influenza
Nutrition and dietary guidelines, and related issues such as obesity

History:

1862 - On May 15, Abraham Lincoln signed law creating what would become the USDA. It was originally called The Department of Agriculture, and also known as the People’s Department

1889 - The Department of Agriculture was elevated to cabinet level by President Grover Cleveland

Key Agencies

Department of Commerce

Lauren Reisig — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:45:00 GMT

Official Name: Department of Commerce (DOC)

Mission Statement: The historic mission of the Department is "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce" of the United States. This has evolved, as a result of legislative and administrative additions, to encompass broadly the responsibility to foster, serve, and promote the Nation's economic development and technological advancement. The Department fulfills this mission by:
                a. Participating with other Government agencies in the creation of national policy, through the President's Cabinet and its subdivisions.
                b. Promoting and assisting international trade.
                c. Strengthening the international economic position of the United States.
                d. Promoting progressive domestic business policies and growth.
                e. Improving comprehension and uses of the physical environment and its oceanic life.
                f. Ensuring effective use and growth of the Nation's scientific and technical resources.
                g. Acquiring, analyzing, and disseminating information regarding the Nation and the economy to help achieve increased social and economic benefit.
                h. Assisting states, communities, and individuals with economic progress

Director: Secretary of Commerce, Carlos M. Gutierrez

Number of Employees: 38,000

Budget:

	2006	2007	2008
	Actual	Estimate	Budget
Mandatory Budget Authority	12,839	2,240,850	133,111
Discretionary Budget Authority	6,626,038	5,627,578	6,553,000
Total Budget Authority	6,638,877	7,868,428	6,686,111
Mandatory Outlays	(79,838)	141,707	543,576
Discretionary Outlays	6,454,259	6,038,627	6,539,258
Total Outlays	6,374,421	6,180,334	7,082,834

FY2008 Budget

Hot Button Issues:

Gas prices
International Trade
Unemployment

History:

1903 - The Department of Commerce and Labor was created by the Act of February 14 (32 Stat. 826; 5 U.S.C. 591).

1905 - The Bureau of Manufactures was established.

1913 - The Department of Labor was created by the Act of March 4 (37 Stat. 737; 5 U.S.C. 616). The designation Department of Commerce and Labor was changed to the Department of Commerce.

1926 - A Federal policy on commercial aeronautics was established by the Act of May 20 (44 Stat. 568) placing the administration of commercial aeronautics under the Department of Commerce. The Aeronautics Branch was created within the Department.

1945 - Reorganization of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce resulted in the establishment of the Office of International Trade, Office of Small Business, Office of Domestic Commerce, Office of Field Operations, and Office of Business Economics, all within the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce (Department Order 10 of December 18).

1949 - The Hoover Commission reported March 1 to the Congress its recommendation on reorganization of the Department of Commerce.

The Office of Transportation and the Transportation Council were established (Department Order 128 of November).

1951 The Defense Air Transportation Administration was created.

The Office of Business Economics was established as a primary organization unit of the Department.

1955 - The Office of International Trade Fairs was established (Department Order 15, Amended, of December 1).

1961 - The United States Travel Service was established by the International Travel Act of 1961.

1965 - The Economic Development Administration (EDA) was established.

The Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Weather Bureau were consolidated to form the Environmental Science Services Administration.

1969 - The Office of Minority Business Enterprise was established by the Secretary.

The Office of Telecommunications was established by the Secretary.

1970 - NOAA was formed, succeeding the Environmental Science Services Administration.

The National Technical Information Service was established by the Secretary September 2, 1970, under authority of 15 U.S.C. 115 1.

1971 - Executive Order 11625 expanded the programs and activities of the Office of Minority Business Enterprise.

1972 - The Office of Business Economics was renamed the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

1977 - Establishment of the Industry and Trade Administration by the Secretary.

The Department of Energy Organization Act transferred the Office of Energy Programs to the Department of Energy.

1980 - The International Trade Administration was established on January 2, 1980, by the Secretary.

1982 - The Office of Productivity, Technology and Innovation was established pursuant to the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Act of 1980

1987 - The United States Export Administration was created. January 1988 the name was changed to the Bureau of Export Administration.

1988 - The Technology Administration was established to promote the Nation's economic competitiveness

Key Agencies

Department of Defense

Lauren Reisig — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:11:00 GMT

Official Name: Department of Defense (DOD)

Mission Statement: The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. The department's headquarters is at the Pentagon.

Director: Robert M. Gates

Number of Employees:

1.3+ million men and women on active duty
669,281 civilian personnel
1.1 million serve in the National Guard and Reserve forces
About 2 million military retirees and their family members receive benefits.

Budget:

(Dollars in Thousands)

	2006	2007	2008
	Actual	Estimate	Budget
Mandatory Budget Authority	59,264,632	1,682,393	1,838,900
Discretionary Budget Authority	534,484,124	505,349,068	481,409,514
Total Budget Authority	593,748,756	507,031,461	483,248,414
Mandatory Outlays	532,809	1,612,342	1,969,919
Discretionary Outlays	498,744,149	514,895,722	457,784,494
Total Outlays	499,276,958	516,508,064	459,754,413

FY2008 Greenbook

FY2008 Budget

Best Known For:

Providing the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of the United States.

Fun Facts:

The DOD employees work in more than 163 countries. 450,925 troops and civilians overseas both afloat and ashore.
The DOD operates in every time zone and in every climate.
Composed of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and National Guard and Reserve

Hot Button Issues:

Operation “Iraqi Freedom”

History:

1775 - Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were established in concurrence with the American Revolution.

1789 - The War Department was established (precursor to the DOD)

1798 - The Department of the Navy was founded.

1947 - Congress established a civilian, Cabinet-level Secretary of Defense to oversee an also newly created National Military Establishment. The U.S. Air Force was also created, along with a new Department of the Air Force. The War Department was converted to the Department of the Army. Army, Navy, and Air Force, were placed under the direct control of the new Secretary of Defense.

1949 - An amendment to the Act consolidated further the national defense structure, creating what we now know as the Department of Defense, and withdrawing cabinet-level status for the three Service secretaries.

Key Agencies: