A complete list of independent agencies and goverernment corporations may be found at: http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/Federal/Independent.shtml but here are a few that are of special interest:
- Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)
Promotes the preservation, enhancement, and
sustainable use of our nation’s diverse historic resources, and advises the President and the Congress on national historic preservation policy.
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
An independent agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA) is nominated by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director manages the operations, personnel, and budget of the Central Intelligence Agency.
- Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR)
Our mission is to inform the development of national civil rights policy and enhance enforcement of federal civil rights laws. We pursue this mission by studying alleged deprivations of voting rights and alleged discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice. We play a vital role in advancing civil rights through objective and comprehensive investigation, research, and analysis on issues of fundamental concern to the federal government and the public.
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
- Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
Mission: lead intelligence integration; Forge an Intelligence Community that delivers the most insightful intelligence possible.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment by developing and enforcing regulations created by environmental law.
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the Commission is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s communications law and regulations.
- Federal Reserve System Board of Governors (The Fed)
The Federal Reserve System is the central bank of the United States. It performs five general functions to promote the effective operation of the U.S. economy and, more generally, the public interest.
- Federal Reserve Archive (FRASER)
Collects economic data, archives, and education of the Federal Reserve.
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Abipartisan federal agency with a unique dual mission to protect consumers and promote competition. For one hundred years, our collegial and consensus-driven agency has championed the interests of American consumers. As we begin our second century, the FTC is dedicated to advancing consumer interests while encouraging innovation and competition in our dynamic economy.
- General Services Administration (GSA)
GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, offering billions of dollars worth of products, services, and facilities that federal agencies need to serve the public.
- Government Ethics Office (OGE)
The U.S. Office of Government Ethics, established by the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, provides overall leadership and oversight of the executive branch ethics program designed to prevent and resolve conflicts of interest.
- Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
The mission of IMLS is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. We provide leadership through research, policy development, and grant making.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is responsible for unique scientific and technological achievements in human space flight, aeronautics, space science, and space applications that have had widespread impacts on our nation and the world. The site leads to Missions, Galleries, and NASA TV.
- National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation's record keeper. Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever. Those valuable records are preserved and are available to you, whether you want to see if they contain clues about your family’s history, need to prove a veteran’s military service, or are researching an historical topic that interests you.
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..." The NSF is the funding source for approximately 24 percent of all federally supported basic research.
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Charged with determining the probable cause of transportation accidents and promoting transportation safety, and assisting victims of transportation accidents and their families.
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
The Commission as a collegial body formulates policies, develops regulations governing nuclear reactor and nuclear material safety, issues orders to licensees, and adjudicates legal matters.
- Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is a service opportunity for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation.
- Personnel Management Office (OPM)
OPM works in several broad categories to recruit, retain and honor a world-class workforce for the American people.
- Postal Service (USPS)
Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first Postmaster General in 1775. The history of the United States Postal Service is rooted in a single, great principle: that every person in the United States – no matter who, no matter where – has the right to equal access to secure, efficient, and affordable mail service.
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The mission of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.
- Small Business Administration (SBA)
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.
- Social Security Administration (SSA)
Created in 1935 to promote the economic security of the nartion's people through programs and services to support millions of people.
