LibGuides: Government Websites: Independent Agencies

Independent agencies of the United States federal government exist outside the federal executive departments (those headed by a Cabinet secretary) and the President's Executive Office. In a more narrow sense, the term may also describe agencies that, while constitutionally part of the executive branch, are independent of presidential control, usually because the president's power to dismiss the agency head or a member is limited.

Independent agencies of the United States government

	Central Intelligence Agency The CIA gathers foreign intelligence and provides national security assessments to policymakers in the United States. It is the federal government's primary human intelligence provider.
	Commodity Futures Trading Commission The CFTC regulates the United States' commodity futures and options markets and protects market participants against manipulation, abusive trade practices, and fraud.
	Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The CFPB is responsible for consumer protection in the financial sector. Its jurisdiction includes banks, credit unions, securities firms, payday lenders, mortgage-servicing operations, foreclosure relief services, debt collectors, and other financial companies in the United States.
	Environmental Protection Agency The EPA works with state and local governments throughout the United States to control and decrease environmental pollution and to address problems related to solid waste, pesticides, radiation, and toxic substances.
	Federal Communications Commission The FCC regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. It licenses radio and television broadcast stations, assigns radio frequencies, and enforces regulations to ensure reasonable cable rates.
	Federal Election Commission The FEC oversees campaign financing for all federal elections. The Commission oversees elections and reports on candidate campaign contributions.
	Federal Energy Regulatory Commission The FEA is a federal agency in the United States that regulates interstate electricity sales, wholesale electric rates, hydroelectric licensing, natural gas pricing, and oil pipelines. FERC also reviews and authorizes liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, interstate natural gas pipelines, and non-federal hydropower projects.
	Federal Maritime Commission The FMC regulates the international ocean transportation of the United States and works to ensure a competitive and efficient system.
	Federal Reserve Board of Governors The Federal Reserve Board of Governors is the governing body of the Federal Reserve System (often called "the Fed," the central bank of the United States. It conducts the nation's monetary policy by influencing the circulation volume of credit and money.
	Federal Trade Commission The FTC enforces federal antitrust and consumer protection laws by investigating complaints against individual companies initiated by consumers, businesses, congressional inquiries, or reports in the media.
	General Services Administration The GSA is responsible for purchasing, supplying, operating, and maintaining federal property, buildings, and equipment and selling surplus items.
	International Trade Commission The ITC provides trade expertise to the federal government's legislative and executive branches, determines the impact of imports on U.S. industries, and determines U.S. actions against certain unfair trade practices, such as patent, trademark, and copyright infringement.
	National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA is the federal space agency responsible for the civilian space program, aeronautics, and aerospace research.
	National Archives and Records Administration NARA preserves the nation's history by overseeing the management of all federal records. The holdings of the National Archives include original textual materials, motion picture films, sound and video recordings, maps, still pictures, and computer data.
	National Labor Relations Board The NLRB administers the principal United States labor law, the National Labor Relations Act. The board is vested with the power to prevent or remedy unfair labor practices and to safeguard employees' rights to organize and determine through elections whether to have a union as their bargaining representative.
	National Science Foundation The NSF supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering.
	National Transportation Safety Board The NTSB is responsible for civil transportation accident investigations in the U.S. The NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents and certain types of highway, ship, marine, pipeline, and railroad accidents.
	Nuclear Regulatory Commission The NRC oversees reactor safety and security, reactor licensing and renewal, radioactive material safety, and spent fuel management (storage, security, recycling, and disposal).
	Postal Regulatory Commission The PRC provides regulatory oversight over the activities of the United States Postal Service.
	Securities and Exchange Commission The SEC aims to protect investors who buy stocks and bonds. Federal laws require companies planning to raise money by selling their securities to file reports about their operations with the SEC so that investors can access all information.
	Selective Service System The SSS is an independent federal agency with permanent authorization under the Military Selective Service Act. It serves the military's emergency workforce needs by conscripting untrained men or personnel with professional health care skills if directed by Congress and the President.
	Small Business Administration The SBA's mission is to advise, assist, and protect the interests of small business concerns. The SBA guarantees loans to small businesses, aids victims of floods and other natural disasters, promotes the growth of minority-owned firms, and helps secure contracts for small businesses to supply goods and services to the federal government.
	Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution is a group of museums and research centers administered by the Government of the United States. Named after its founding donor, British scientist James Smithson, the Institution is termed "the nation's attic" for its eclectic holdings of 154 million items. The Institution's nineteen museums, nine research centers, and zoo include historical and architectural landmarks.
	Social Security Administration The SSA is the United States federal agency that administers Social Security, a social insurance program comprising retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits. Most American workers pay Social Security taxes on their earnings to qualify for these benefits; employee contributions affect future benefits.
	Surface Transportation Board The STB is an economic regulatory agency that Congress charges to resolve railroad rate and service disputes and review proposed railroad mergers. Although administratively affiliated with the Department of Transportation, it is decisionally independent.
	United States Postal Service The Postal Service collects, transports, and delivers mail and operates thousands of local post offices nationwide.