Created by the National Security Act of 1947 as successor to the wartime OSS. Its directorates cover analysis, operations, science and technology, and digital innovation, and its covert programs are reported to the two congressional intelligence committees.
Open the interactive page for CIA →Created byNational Security Act of 1947 (P.L. 80-253 § 102); fiscal and administrative authorities from the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (P.L. 81-110)
Head appointed50 U.S.C. § 3036(a): Director of the Central Intelligence Agency appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; reports to the DNI; no fixed term (PAS)
Removal standardno statutory protection — at will
Funded underclassified annex to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act; funds transferable to and spendable by CIA without normal fiscal restrictions (50 U.S.C. § 3506), and confidential expenditures are 'accounted for solely on the certificate of the Director' (50 U.S.C. § 3510, CIA Act of 1949)
Congressional oversightHouse Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence · Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Inspector generalown statutory PAS IG, 50 U.S.C. § 3517 (created by P.L. 101-193, 1989); IC IG (50 U.S.C. § 3033) has overlapping jurisdiction
Judicial reviewWebster v. Doe, 486 U.S. 592 (1988): Director's national-security terminations (now 50 U.S.C. § 3036(e)) are APA-unreviewable, though colorable constitutional claims survive; operational files exempt from FOIA search and review under the CIA Information Act of 1984, 50 U.S.C. § 3141; secret-espionage-contract suits barred (Totten rule; Tenet v. Doe, 544 U.S. 1 (2005))
Vote for President, who directs covert action, and for members of the congressional intelligence committees; request records under the Freedom of Information Act.