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Federal Government

Federal Agencies

Explore the full landscape of U.S. federal agencies, departments, regulatory commissions, and independent bodies that carry out the work of the federal government.

About Federal Agencies

The Machinery of Government

The United States federal government operates through hundreds of departments, agencies, commissions, and independent bodies. Each is created by Congress or executive authority to carry out specific functions — from national defense and public health to financial regulation and space exploration.

Cabinet-level departments are the largest and most prominent, led by Secretaries who serve in the President's Cabinet. Independent agencies operate outside direct Cabinet control, providing regulatory oversight and specialized services free from political pressure.

Together these agencies employ nearly 3 million civilian workers and administer a budget exceeding $6.8 trillion, touching virtually every aspect of American life.

440+

Federal Agencies

Departments, commissions & bodies

2.9M

Federal Employees

Civilian workforce

$6.8T

Annual Budget

FY 2024 appropriations

15

Cabinet Departments

Principal executive departments

Browse All Agencies

CABINET POST

Department of State

Est. 1789

DOS

Manages U.S. foreign policy, diplomacy, and international relations. Oversees embassies and consulates worldwide.

Cabinet
75,000+
Details

Department of the Treasury

Est. 1789

USDT

Manages federal finances, produces currency, collects taxes, and enforces financial laws.

Cabinet
100,000+
Details

Department of Defense

Est. 1947

DOD

Oversees the U.S. Armed Forces and coordinates national security and military operations.

Cabinet

Department of Justice

Est. 1870

DOJ

Enforces federal law, administers justice, and represents the U.S. government in legal matters.

Cabinet
115,000+
Details

Department of the Interior

Est. 1849

DOI

Manages natural resources, national parks, and relations with Native American tribes.

Cabinet
70,000+
Details

Department of Agriculture

Est. 1862

USDA

Supports farming, food safety, rural development, and nutrition programs including SNAP.

Cabinet
100,000+
Details

Department of Commerce

Est. 1903

DOC

Promotes economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development through data and trade policy.

Cabinet
47,000+
Details

Department of Labor

Est. 1913

DOL

Promotes worker welfare, enforces labor laws, and administers unemployment insurance.

Cabinet
17,000+
Details

Department of Health and Human Services

Est. 1953

HHS

Protects public health and provides essential human services through Medicare, Medicaid, and the CDC.

Cabinet
80,000+
Details

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Est. 1965

HUD

Addresses housing needs, improves communities, and enforces fair housing laws.

Cabinet
8,000+
Details

Department of Transportation

Est. 1966

DOT

Ensures fast, safe, efficient transportation through aviation, highways, rail, and transit policy.

Cabinet
55,000+
Details

Department of Energy

Est. 1977

DOE

Advances energy technology, manages nuclear weapons programs, and promotes energy security.

Cabinet
14,000+
Details

Department of Education

Est. 1979

ED

Promotes student achievement and ensures equal access to educational opportunity.

Cabinet
4,000+
Details

Department of Veterans Affairs

Est. 1989

VA

Provides benefits, healthcare, and memorial services to U.S. military veterans.

Cabinet
400,000+
Details

Department of Homeland Security

Est. 2002

DHS

Coordinates national efforts to prevent terrorism and respond to natural disasters.

Cabinet
240,000+
Details

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Est. 1908

FBI

Investigates federal crimes, counterterrorism, and cybercrime as the nation's premier law enforcement agency.

Law Enforcement
35,000+
Details

Drug Enforcement Administration

Est. 1973

DEA

Enforces controlled substances laws and regulations and combats drug trafficking.

Law Enforcement
10,000+
Details

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Est. 1972

ATF

Regulates and investigates illegal use of firearms, explosives, arson, and alcohol/tobacco trafficking.

Law Enforcement
5,000+
Details

U.S. Marshals Service

Est. 1789

USMS

Protects federal courts, apprehends fugitives, and manages the witness protection program.

Law Enforcement
5,500+
Details

U.S. Secret Service

Est. 1865

USSS

Protects national leaders and investigates financial crimes including counterfeiting.

Law Enforcement
7,000+
Details

Central Intelligence Agency

Est. 1947

CIA

Collects and analyzes foreign intelligence to support national security decision-making.

Intelligence
21,000+
Details

National Security Agency

Est. 1952

NSA

Conducts signals intelligence and protects U.S. government communications and information systems.

Intelligence
30,000+
Details

Defense Intelligence Agency

Est. 1961

DIA

Provides military intelligence to warfighters, defense policymakers, and force planners.

Intelligence
16,500+
Details

Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Est. 2004

ODNI

Leads and coordinates the U.S. Intelligence Community across 18 member agencies.

Intelligence
1,750+
Details

Federal Communications Commission

Est. 1934

FCC

Regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.

Regulatory
1,500+
Details

Federal Trade Commission

Est. 1914

FTC

Protects consumers and promotes competition by preventing anticompetitive business practices.

Regulatory
1,100+
Details

Securities and Exchange Commission

Est. 1934

SEC

Regulates securities markets and protects investors from fraud and manipulation.

Regulatory
4,500+
Details

Environmental Protection Agency

Est. 1970

EPA

Protects human health and the environment through regulations, research, and enforcement.

Regulatory
15,000+
Details

Food and Drug Administration

Est. 1906

FDA

Ensures the safety and efficacy of food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics.

Regulatory
18,000+
Details

Federal Aviation Administration

Est. 1958

FAA

Regulates civil aviation to promote safety and efficiency in U.S. airspace.

Regulatory
45,000+
Details

NASA

Est. 1958

NASA

Leads civilian space exploration, aeronautics research, and Earth science programs.

Science & Tech
18,000+
Details

National Institutes of Health

Est. 1887

NIH

The nation's primary medical research agency, funding and conducting biomedical research.

Science & Tech
20,000+
Details

National Science Foundation

Est. 1950

NSF

Funds fundamental research and education in all non-medical fields of science and engineering.

Science & Tech
2,200+
Details

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Est. 1901

NIST

Advances measurement science, standards, and technology to enhance economic security.

Science & Tech
3,400+
Details

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Est. 1946

CDC

Protects public health through disease surveillance, prevention, and response programs.

Science & Tech
15,000+
Details

Social Security Administration

Est. 1935

SSA

Administers Social Security retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for millions of Americans.

Social Services
60,000+
Details

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Est. 1977

CMS

Administers Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Social Services
6,500+
Details

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Est. 1979

FEMA

Coordinates disaster response and recovery, and helps communities prepare for emergencies.

Social Services
20,000+
Details

U.S. Agency for International Development

Est. 1961

USAID

Leads U.S. international development and humanitarian assistance around the world.

Social Services
10,000+
Details

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Est. 1965

EEOC

Enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination based on protected characteristics.

Social Services
2,000+
Details

Federal Reserve System

Est. 1913

FED

The central bank of the United States, managing monetary policy and financial system stability.

Finance
22,000+
Details

Internal Revenue Service

Est. 1862

IRS

Collects federal taxes and administers the Internal Revenue Code.

Finance
80,000+
Details

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Est. 2011

CFPB

Protects consumers in the financial marketplace from unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices.

Finance
1,700+
Details

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Est. 1933

FDIC

Insures bank deposits and promotes stability and public confidence in the financial system.

Finance
5,900+
Details

Office of Management and Budget

Est. 1921

OMB

Assists the President in overseeing the federal budget and management of executive agencies.

Finance

General Services Administration

Est. 1949

GSA

Manages federal property, procurement, and technology services for the U.S. government.

Operations
11,000+
Details

Office of Personnel Management

Est. 1979

OPM

Manages the federal civilian workforce through hiring, benefits, and human resources policy.

Operations
5,500+
Details

Government Accountability Office

Est. 1921

GAO

The legislative branch watchdog that audits federal programs and advises Congress.

Operations
3,500+
Details

U.S. Postal Service

Est. 1775

USPS

Provides postal services to every address in the United States, including rural areas.

Operations
640,000+
Details

National Archives and Records Administration

Est. 1934

NARA

Preserves and provides access to federal government records and historical documents.

Operations
2,600+
Details

Official Government Resources

Access official agency websites, regulations, and public records through USA.gov and the Federal Register.