United States. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

Established in 1961, the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, usually called ACDA, was an independent federal agency created to help shape and coordinate American policy on arms control and disarmament. It handled research, supported negotiations, and worked on the verification and implementation of international agreements tied to nuclear and other weapons.

ACDA played an important role in the broader U.S. foreign policy effort during the Cold War, when questions about nuclear testing, nonproliferation, and strategic weapons were central to global politics. Rather than acting as a military body, it brought together diplomacy, technical expertise, and long-range policy planning.

The agency remained active until 1999, when its functions were folded into the U.S. Department of State. Even after its closure, ACDA is remembered as a key part of the American government's effort to reduce the dangers of arms races while protecting national security.