Major Independent Agencies
There are several administrative divisions of the government whose job it is to enforce and administer laws and regulations. Because provisions for these agencies were not outlined in the Constitution, they are considered independent extensions of the U.S. government. Here is a list of some of the major agencies.
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- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Office of Public Affairs (20505)
Established: 1947
Director of Central Intelligence: Leon Panetta
The CIA conducts counterintelligence activities and other functions related to foreign intelligence and national security, as directed by the President and National Security Council. The Director reports to the Director of National Intelligence.
www.cia.gov
- U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
624 9th St., NW (20425)
Established: 1957
Chair: Gerald A. Reynolds
The commission investigates complaints of discrimination and denial of equal protection of laws, evaluates Federal laws concerning discrimination and denial of equal protection, and issues public service messages that discourage discrimination.
www.usccr.gov
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Md. 20814
Established: Oct. 27, 1972
Chair: Pamela Gilbert
The CPSC aims to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths from consumer products by developing and enforcing safety standards, recalling defective products, and researching potentially hazardous products.
www.cpsc.gov
- Corporation for National and Community Service
1201 New York Ave., NW (20525)
Established: Sept. 1993
CEO: Nicola O. Goren
www.cns.gov
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (20460)
Established: Dec. 2, 1970
Administrator: Lisa Jackson
The EPA mission is to protect human health and the natural environment—air, water, and land—by making and enforcing environmental laws.
www.epa.gov
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
1801 L. St., NW (20507)4
Members: 5
Established: July 2, 1965
Chair: Stuart J. Ishimaru
The EEOC promotes equal opportunity in employment by enforcing federal civil-rights laws and through education and technical assistance.
www.eeoc.gov
- Farm Credit Administration (FCA)
1501 Farm Credit Dr., McLean, Va. 22102-5090
Members: 13
Established: March 27, 1933
Chair: Leland A. "Lee" Strom
www.fca.gov
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
445 12th Street, SW (20554)
Established: 1934
Chair: Michael Copps
www.fcc.gov
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
550 17th St., NW (20429-9990)
Established: June 16, 1933
Chair: Sheila C. Bair
The FDIC insures banks deposits so that people's money is protected if a bank fails. The FDIC also supervises 6,000 banks and financial institutions and manages bank failures to minimize complications.
www.fdic.gov
- Federal Election Commission (FEC)
999 E St., NW (20463)
Members: 6
Established: 1975
Chair: Steven T. Walther
The FEC was created uphold the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), which regulates the financing of federal elections.
www.fec.gov
- Federal Maritime Commission
800 North Capitol St., NW (20573-0001)
Members: 5
Established: Aug. 12, 1961
Chair: Steven R. Blust
www.fmc.gov
- Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
2100 K St., NW (20427)
Established: 1947
Director: Scot L. Beckenbaugh
www.fmcs.gov
- Federal Reserve System (FRS), Board of Governors of
20th St. & Constitution Ave., NW (20551)
Members: 7
Established: Dec. 23, 1913
Chair: Ben Bernanke
The Federal Reserve System, which includes 12 regional Federal reserve banks that are supervised by a Federal Reserve Board, is the central bank of the United States. Its original mission was to ensure the country's financial system remained stable. Its role has expanded and now includes regulating credit conditions and loan rates, regulating banks, and advising the government on the country's payments system.
www.federalreserve.gov
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (20580)
Members: 5
Established: Sept. 26, 1914
Chair: William E. Kovacic
The FTC enforces several federal antitrust and consumer-protection laws. The Commission makes sure the nation's businesses are competitive, healthy, free of unfair restrictions, and are fair to consumers.
www.ftc.gov
- General Services Administration (GSA)
1800 F St., NW (20405)
Established: July 1, 1949
Administrator: James A. Williams
www.gsa.gov
- U.S. International Trade Commission
500 E St., SW (20436)
Members: 6
Established: Sept. 8, 1916
Chair: Shara L. Aranoff
www.usitc.gov
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Public Communications and Inquiries Management Office, NASA Headquarters, Suite 1M32 (20546-0001)
Established: 1958
Administrator: Christopher J. Scolese
NASA conducts research and develops programs in the areas of space exploration, artificial satellites, and rocketry. NASA's best known projects are the Space Shuttle, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Galileo mission to Jupiter, and the agency's aeronautics research.
www.nasa.gov
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National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Md. 20740-6001
Established: Oct. 19, 1984. NARA is the successor agency to the National Archives Establishment, which was created in 1934 and later incorporated into the General Services Administration as the National Archives and Records Service in 1949.
Archivist of the U.S.: Adrienne Thomas
www.nara.gov
National Endowment for the Arts
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (20506)
Established: 1965
Chair: Dana Gioia
The foundation supports the arts by funding museums, artists, and arts-related programs for schools and communities.
www.arts.gov
National Endowment for the Humanities
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (20506)
Established: 1965
Chair: Carole Watson
The foundation supports the arts by funding museums, artists, and arts-related programs for schools and communities.
www.neh.gov
Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Office of
Washington, DC (20511)
Established: Dec. 2004
Director: Dennis C. Blair
The position of Director of National Intelligence was created by Congress in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001. The National Intelligence Reform Act was passed by Congress in Dec. 2004, formally establishing the post. The director oversees the Central Intelligence Agency and 14 smaller intelligence agencies and will determine what information reaches the president. It is a cabinet-level position.
www.dni.gov
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
1099 14th St., NW (20570-0001)
Members: 5
Established: July 5, 1935
Chair: Wilma B. Liebman
The NLRB enforces the National Labor Relations Act, which is the law that oversees relations between unions and employers in the private sector. It holds elections to determine if employees want to unionize and investigates and fixes unfair labor practices by employers and unions.
www.nlrb.gov
National Mediation Board
1301 K St., NW, Suite 250 East (20005-7011)
Established: June 21, 1934
Chair: Read Van de Water
www.nmb.gov
National Science Foundation (NSF)
4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22230
Established: 1950
Director: Arden L. Bement
The NSF promotes science and engineering through research and education programs.
www.nsf.gov
National Transportation Safety Board
490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW (20594)
Members: 5
Established: April 1, 1967, as an independent agency supported by the Dept. of Transportation. Ties with Dept. of Transportation officially ended in 1975.
Chair: Mark V. Rosenker
The NTSB investigates every civil aviation accident in the United States, as well as railroad, highway, and marine accidents. The board also makes safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.
www.ntsb.gov
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Washington, DC 20555
Members: 5
Established: Jan. 19, 1975
Chair: Dale E. Klein
The NRC licenses and regulates the nonmilitary use of nuclear energy to protect the public and the environment.
www.nrc.gov
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
1900 E St., NW (20415)
Established: Jan. 1, 1979
Director: Kathie A. Whipple
www.opm.gov
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
100 F St., NE (20549)
Members: 5
Established: July 2, 1934
Chair: Mary L. Schapiro
The SEC administers federal securities laws. These laws protect investors in securities markets and ensure that investors have access to information about publicly traded securities. The Commission also regulates firms engaged in the purchase or sale of securities, people who provide investment advice, and investment companies.
www.sec.gov
Selective Service System (SSS)
National Headquarters, Arlington, Va., 22209-2425
Established: Sept. 16, 1940
Director: William A. Chatfield
www.sss.gov
Small Business Administration (SBA)
409 3rd St., SW (20416)
Established: July 30, 1953
Administrator: Karen Gordon Mills
The SBA provides financial, technical, and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses.
www.sba.gov
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, Tenn. 37902-1499
Members of Board of Directors: 9
Established: May 18, 1933
Chairman: Tom Kilgore
www.tva.com
U.S. Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW (20260-0010)
Established: In 1775 with the appointment of Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general under the Continental Congress. In 1970 became independent agency headed by 11-member board of governors.
Postmaster General: John E. Potter
www.usps.com
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