Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), U.S. government agency established in 1947 by the National Security Act to coordinate, evaluate, and disseminate intelligence from other U.S. agencies and to advise the president and the National Security Council on security matters. The CIA has done much to further the interests of the United States and its allies, but such fiascos as the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, as well as concern over possible misuse of its considerable independence in the wake of “Watergate,” led to a major investigation and internal reorganization in 1975.

See also: Intelligence service.