United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Created by the National Security Act of 1947, the Central Intelligence Agency is the United States' main civilian foreign intelligence service. Its mission, as described by the agency, is to gather and share intelligence to protect the nation, and its work supports senior policymakers on national security decisions.

The CIA traces its roots to the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Over the decades it has become known for intelligence collection, analysis, and covert operations abroad, while also drawing intense public attention and criticism for some of its most controversial programs and interventions.

Today, the agency describes itself as an independent organization within the U.S. Intelligence Community, organized around multiple directorates and mission centers. For readers interested in politics, espionage, or hidden history, the CIA stands at the center of many defining events of the modern era.